William Franklin Smith

William F. "Bill" Smith 70 passed away of complications from pneumonia and congestive heart failure on February 24, 2018, at Merit Health Madison.  Clearly, “getting old ain't for sissies.”  Visitation will be Sunday, February 25, 2018 from 5 – 7 pm at Breeland Funeral Home, graveside services will be 4:00 pm on Monday, February 26, 2018 at the Canton Cemetery.   The recently departed requests casual attire for his funeral.  

Bill was born the baby of the family on December 5, 1947, in Pinehill, AL, but lived his entire life in Canton, MS. He was a champion marble shooter in his youth and attended the old Canton High School before leaving his studies to spend 18 months in sunny Southeast Asia, better known as Vietnam.  After his Army service, Bill returned to Canton, where he met and married his wife Patsy.  He was an active member of the VFW and umpired VFW girls' softball games for many years.  Bill served on the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board, where he championed veterans' rights.  He was also the only known Girl Scout Super Dad for the Canton area.  Bill was fiercely patriotic and loved displaying an American flag out in front of his house. He was a plumber and electrician by trade and was successfully self-employed until his retirement in 2008.

Bill was an avid fisherman and hunter of deer, turkey, and women (after he became a widower).  He also was a food lover, preferring old southern culinary favorites, Chinese food, and anything that didn't eat him first. He enjoyed tilling on his tractor and "farming" pink eye purple hull peas.  But, Bill was never happier than when he was spending time with his grandsons, complaining about his lack of granddaughters, shooting the bull and drinking coffee at Phillips Lumber, or winning a game of competitive sickness.  He definitely won this time.  

He is preceded in death by his precious wife Patsy Moore Smith, his mother Lula Mae Smith and siblings George Smith, Minnie Pearl Pickard, and Walter Smith.  

He is survived by his daughters, Mandy Smith of Sevierville, TN, and Laura Ward and husband Travis of Canton, MS, and grandsons Will, Cole, and Sam Ward.  He is also survived by his older than dirt sister Elizabeth McKay and husband John, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews, and broken hearts that he left in his wake.

His family would like to thank Ms. Earnestine McGruder for all her years of dedicated service.  They would also like to thank the doctors and nurses, especially Belinda in the ICU, at Merit Health Madison for the care he received.  Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or to Canton Academy.  

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