Keith Smith

Franklin Keith Smith, resident of the Gallaway Community and employee of Federal Mogul Company in Athens, Alabama died Wednesday afternoon, October 17, 2012 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis where he had been a patient for two months. He was 55 years of age and died following an extended illness.

Services of Remembrance for Mr. Smith were conducted at 11 A.M. Saturday, October 20th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Bro. Billy Adair of Moscow officiating. Interment followed in the Walls Cemetery at Braden. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center — West Chapel at Oakland.

Mr. Smith was born July 22, 1957 in Covington, Tennessee, the son of the former Peggy Louise Adkison and the late James Franklin (Shank) Smith. He received his education in the Fayette County Public School System and served in the Tennessee National Guard in earlier years. He was employed as a long-distance independence contractor truck operator for much of his life and for the past 6 years had been employed by the Federal Mogul Company of Athens, Alabama.

Mr. Smith was a Baptist and will be remembered as an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed sports and playing baseball in earlier years. He enjoyed cookouts and special times with his family and friends. His employment and trucking often carried him to other locations and he always considered Fayette County as his home. He was devoted to his family and will be remembered as a people-person who enjoyed the friendships of many.

Mr. Smith is survived by two sons, Aaron C. Smith of Memphis, David K. Smith of Memphis; his mother, Peggy DeFoor and step-father, Gene DeFoor of Mason; his sister, Debbie Lemmon of Mason; two brothers, James Dale Smith (Debra) of Jupiter, FL, James Franklin “Frankie” Smith, Jr. (Tammy) of Jupiter, FL; four step-brothers, Eddie DeFoor of Somerville, Carlton DeFoor of Somerville, David DeFoor of Oakland, Don DeFoor of Oakland; two grandchildren, Ty Smith of Memphis, Lilly Ann Smith of Memphis; and numerous friends and coworkers in Athens, Alabama, whom the family loves, supports and will cherish their love forever.

Mr. Smith's lifelong fishing and hunting buddy, Sandy Hughes, husband of Amy Hughes, by the will of God, was called home within three hours of Mr. Smith.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Aaron Smith, David Smith, Dale Smith, Frankie Smith, Randy Pugh and Mike Pilkington.
Honorary casketbearers were Jacob Pilkington and Charlie Pugh.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Morris Chapel Baptist Church, 475 Feathers Chapel Drive, Somerville, TN 38068.