Kenneth Smathers

Waynesville, Kenneth Lee "Red" Smathers, age 81, passed away on Friday, September 19, 2014 at his residence. A native of Haywood County, he was the son of the late Perry and Nellie Arrington Smathers. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Sam; a sister, Bernice; a grandson, Scotty Cochran; great-grandson, Levi Wade and a nephew, Tommy Smathers. Kenneth was a United States Army veteran serving in the Korea Conflict. Kenneth had a passion and a love for the game of golf. Throughout his many rounds, he scored three holes-in-one, with his favorite course being Lake Junaluska golf course. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed. Kenneth was a life-time member of Pleasant Balsam Baptist Church. In addition to his wife of 55 years, Authorine Hooper Smathers; he is survived by two daughters, Jean Leonard of San Jose, California and Janice Cochran and her husband, Buddy, of Waynesville; one brother, Roy Smathers, of Waynesville; one granddaughter, Karen Wade and her husband, Darren; one great-granddaughter, Courtney Wade; one granddaughter-in-law, Heather Cochran Hollingsworth; a sister-in-law, Imogene Hall and her husband, Jesse; two brother-in-laws, Manuel Hooper and his wife, Mary Sue and Carroll Hooper and his wife, Agnes Jane; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, September 22, 2014 at Pleasant Balsam Baptist Church with Reverend Bobby Downs officiating. Burial will follow at Saunook-Plott Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sunday at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville. Memorials may be made to Davita Waynesville Dialysis Center, 11 Park Terrace Drive, Clyde, NC 28721 or the American Cancer Society, 120 Executive Park, Building One, Asheville, NC 28801.

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