Homer David "Heavy" Smith

Homer David "Heavy" Smith passed away Monday, February 13, 2017 at the CarePartners Solace Center. He was born January 21, 1942 in Asheville, NC to the late Homer C. and Hallie Lawhon Smith. He was also preceded in death by his brother Charles J. Smith of Asheville. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Doris M. Smith of Candler; son David L. Smith and wife Kemper; daughter Christa R. Smith; 7 grandchildren, Shelby, Jake, Jackson and Bret Smith, Preston and Stratton Reagan, and Colson Smith, all of Asheville; and many special friends from his music and Railroad careers. Mr. Smith was a veteran serving in the Air Force from 1960-1964 at Turner AFB in Albany, GA. He had an ear and love for music and did music production for several local artists. He played the saxophone in a band while in the service and afterwards in bands playing at the popular Brown Derby in Asheville in his younger days. Mr. Smith opened his own detective and recovery business prior to beginning his thirty year career working for Norfolk Southern Railway in 1975 as a conductor and trainman, retiring in 2005. He was a member of West Asheville Baptist Church joining in 1953 at age eleven, and has also recently attended Freedom Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2017, in the Patton Ave. chapel of Groce Funeral Home, with Dr. Stan Welch and the Rev. Keith Hutchinson officiating. Interment will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Western Carolina State Veteran's Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 15829, Arlington, VA 22215.