Wayne Smith

Waynesville, Wayne Eustice Smith, age 65, of Pigeon Gap Road, passed away on Monday, August 4, 2008 at the John F. Keever Solace Center. A native of Haywood County, he was the son of the late Dalmah "Buck" and Lucy Erwin Smith. Wayne retired from the Dayco Corporation in 1994 with 29 years service and was a member of Bethel Baptist Church. Wayne, a lifelong sportsman, continued to be an advocate for hunting, fishing, and shooting sports even after he was confined to a wheelchair. His dream and goal was to help others with physical limitations enjoy the same activities as those individuals without physical limitations. He received a statewide honor on July 11, 2007 in Raleigh when a state facility was renamed in his honor. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission renamed the Cold Mountain Shooting Range as the Wayne E. Smith Shooting Range. He was able to help bring about fully accessible campsites at both Jack Rabbit Campground at Lake Chatuge and Hanging Dog Campground at Hiawassee Lake. He was also able to secure free fishing licenses for disabled individuals. He worked with wildlife officials in Raleigh to install floating docks on all lakes in the western counties of North Carolina to make them handicapped accessible. He also worked closely with the Western North Carolina Sportsmen Association the Walkfar Coon Club and the Pisgah High School shooting club to advocate outdoor issues and had a special interest in helping young people develop an interest in hunting, fishing, and shooting. Wayne served as a member of the NC Wildlife Resource Commission Disabled Sportsmen Advisory Committee since 2003. Despite his own disability, he was able to bring about many positive changes for people with physical limitation. He was a volunteer and member of Pathways for the Future and Moderator of CyberPals. He is survived by his wife of more than 42 years, Mary Reed Smith; one son, Jeff Smith of Waynesville; two daughters, Cindy Ayers and her husband, Roger, of Canton and Christy Rathbone and her husband, Allen, of Waynesville; one brother, Gary Smith, of Waynesville; one sister, Shirley Cutshaw and her husband, Dean, of Waynesville; and five grandchildren, Tyler, Blake, and Karli Ayers and Kate and Gabe Rathbone. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2008 at Bethel Baptist Church with Reverend Dr. Roy Kilby officiating. Burial will follow at Bethel Community Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be James Allen, Ed Hall, Jeremy Inman, Adam Messer, Andy East, and Robbie Moore. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville and at other times, at the home of Christy Rathbone. Memorials may be made to Pathways for the Future, 525 Mineral Springs Road, Sylva, NC 28779. For those who desire, an on-line memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at "www.wellsfuneralhome.com"

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