Willis Curtis Smith

Curtis Smith, 87, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Monday, August 8, 2016, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle in Columbus, Mississippi. Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 9, 2016, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Nowell Massey Funeral Home in Louisville, Mississippi; and from 10 a.m. until service time on Thursday. Funeral services will be Thursday, August 11, 2016, at 11 a.m. in the Nowell Massey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Stacey Parvin and Rev. Mike Childs officiating. Interment will follow in Beth Eden Cemetery.


Curtis was born May 25, 1929, to Jep and Flora Peaster Smith. He attended Beth Eden Lutheran Church. He retired in 1995, after a 39-year career as a Federal Game Warden, with the United States Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Mr. Smith is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Ruth Ewing Smith; and his daughter, Jeanette Mills and husband, Ernie, all of Louisville. He is also survived by his brother, Bobby Smith and wife, Willa Dean, of Meridian, Mississippi; as well as a host of nieces and nephews. Curtis was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Virginia Clark, Agnes Clark and Dorothy Smith; and three brothers, Jasper “Cooter” Smith, Malcolm Smith, and Melvin Smith.

Serving as pallbearers will be Charles M. Clark, Thomas Clark, Mike Coleman, Randall Livingston, Ray Smith, and Scott Smith.

Memorials may be given to Beth Eden Cemetery Fund, c/o Shirley Livingston, 40 Livingston Road, Louisville, MS 39339.

Services are under the direction of Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.