Mrs. Fern Hopkins Collett Smith, age 92 of Girdler, Kentucky departed this life on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 in the Barbourville Health and Rehabilitation Center with her family by her side. She was born on October 14, 1930 in Knox County, Kentucky and was the daughter of Lee Thomas and Nell (Bowman) Hopkins.
She was preceded in death by her husband Shelby Collett, her parents, Lee Thomas and Nell Bowman Hopkins, a daughter Vickie Joe Patterson, a granddaughter, Susan Messer, her sisters, Imogene Mills, Edith Mills, Gladys Grubb Caudill, Ruby Hammons, Agnes Taylor, Joyce Warren Mills and Christina Hopkins, her brothers, Hobert Hopkins, Henry Lee Hopkins and John Franklin (Jay) Hopkins.
Left behind to mourn her passing, her daughters, Nellie Lynn Messer of Barbourville and Angel Payne (Randall) of Bryant Store, her sons, Lonnie Shelby Collett (Sandy) and Johnnie Franklin Collett (Tammy) of Girdler, thirteen grandchildren, Sawyer Messer (Brenda), Shellie Mills (Derrick), Lonessa Miles (Mark), Lonnie Collett (Brittany), Joey Lynn Abner (Jeremy), Kristie Harris, Johnny Collett (Cynthia), Austin Payne, Jimmy Payne (Miranda), Shelby Payne, Daniel Payne, Randy Payne and Stephanie Youngs, twenty-two great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren, one sister, Dorothy Mills of Indianapolis, Indiana. She also leaves behind many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Smith will be conducted in the Hampton Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Lonnie Collett officiating. She will be laid to rest in the Hopkins Taylor Cemetery on Alex’s Creek. Pallbearers will be grandsons and Honorary pallbearers will be Great Grandsons. Hampton Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements.
Friends will be received at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6:30 until 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service at 2:00 p.m.
To the Smith family, the staff of the Hampton Funeral Home would like to offer you our heartfelt sympathy during your time of bereavement.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Fern Collett (Hopkins) Smith, please visit our Tree Store.
