Harold Smathers

Waynesville-Harold Dean Smathers, age 71, peacefully went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at the home of his daughter, Becky Stevens.

He was a native and life-long resident of Haywood County and was the son of the late Clayton and Nola Wooten Smathers. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a daughter, Donna Smathers Fish, who died in 2000 and a brother, William ''Doc'' Smathers. He was a former employee of Haywood Appliance Company. He was an avid fisherman and also was a member of East Waynesville Baptist Church, which was a very important part of his life along with the love that he had for his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Rubine Medford Smathers; three daughters, Becky Stevens and her husband, Dennis, of Leicester, Kim Janes and her husband, Malcolm, of Waynesville, and Lou Ann Rice and her husband, Steve, of Canton; two sisters, Bobbie Banks, of Waynesville and Jane Payne of Alabama; four brothers, Jack, Charles ''Red'', and Carroll Smathers, all of Waynesville and Billy Smathers of Clyde; eight grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 26, 2004 at East Waynesville Baptist Church with Reverend Chan Chandler and Reverend Carl Prenell officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hill Cemetery in Waynesville. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 25 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Wells Funeral Homes and Cremation Services of Waynesville will also receive friends on Friday prior to the services at the church from 3:00 until 3:45 p.m.

Memorials may be made to East Waynesville Baptist Church, 175 Woodland Drive, Waynesville, NC 28786 or Mountain Area Hospice Solace Center, P.O. Box 16, Asheville, NC 28802.

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