Jeptha Smathers

Jeptha Thomas "J. T." Smathers, age 87, died Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at Silver Bluff Nursing Home. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, he was the son of the late A. F. and Daisy Medford Smathers. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Donna S. Sutton and an infant son, William Ralph Smathers. He was a United States Army veteran serving during World War II. He graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1950 with a B.S. in business administration. J. T. retired from the Internal Revenue Service where he worked as an Internal Revenue Agent in the Asheville and Franklin offices. He was a member of Canton First Baptist Church and was an avid fisherman and gardener. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Helen Wilson Smathers of Canton; a son, Lenny Smathers and his wife, Vicky, of Granite Falls, NC; a daughter, Anita Biggs of Canton; a brother, Hilliard Smathers of Grand Marais, MN; two granddaughters, Cristy Wilson and her husband, Eric, and April Warren; and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2008, at the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Homes with the Reverend Dr. Dick Maples officiating. Burial will follow at Bon-A-Venture Cemetery, Old Clyde Road. The family will receive friends from 3:00 until 4:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Canton First Baptist Church, Baracus Sunday School Class, 74 Academy Street, Canton, NC 28716 or to Canton First Baptist Church, Long Range Building Fund, 74 Academy Street, Canton, NC 28716.

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