Barbourville, KY. – Johnny Edward Smith, 72, formerly of the Tuttle Community in Knox County, and of London Kentucky and Navarre, Florida, passed away September 13, 2022. Johnny was the son of Ed Smith and Margaret Louise Smith born to them on March 23, 1950, in Knox County, Kentucky.
During his teenage years, Johnny became a member of CallihanChurch. He graduated from Knox Central High School and went into the US Army leaving his Appalachian home behind. Johnny served in the US Army with a tour in Vietnam starting in April of 1969 to 1971 and later finished out his service in 1975. He served in US Army Companies B 4th Battalion, 54th Infantry. He attended Union College for a couple of years after returning from Vietnam. Johnny was a proud Army Veteran. For his dedicated and brave service, he was awarded several medals including the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Metals 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Vietnam Campaign Medal. In addition to serving his country, Johnny served his community. In 1973 Johnny started began working for the Barbourville Police Department as a dispatcher eventually working his way up to Chief of Police before retiring in 2004. As a young man, Johnny was a true outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, trapping, and fishing in his spare time. As well, he was a beekeeper and talented dog trainer. In his later years, Johnny loved to travel to Florida to spend time on the beach.
Johnny was a stanch Republican and serious about politics. He had a strong opinion about current events and the state-of-affairs of the country, and he wasn’t’ afraid to express his opinions. If you were visiting him at home, you were watching Fox News or a classic Western as these were two of his favorites. Johnny loved life and lived his to the fullest. He had a great sense of humor and a many funny sayings. Those who knew him well, understood that Johnny didn’t say things once but rather had a habit of repeating things, for good measure, over and over again. That you could guarantee.
During the last two years, as Johnny’s life was nearing an end, he become more in touch with his faith relaying to family his belief it being a time of Revelation. A time for people to “get right with their maker”. Johnny reflected and acknowledged past mistakes, especially mistakes made in some of his most special relationships with family members he dearly loved. He accepted mistakes as part of life often saying, “life goes on with or without you”. Johnny wasn’t afraid to die. He communicated his final wishes to family. He believed it wise for people to get straight with the almighty maker because this world is short lived. In the end, he was sure of where he was going – Heaven, the Happy Hunting Ground.
In addition to his parents, Ed Smith and Margaret Louise Smith, Johnny was preceded in death by daughter Buffy Louise Smith, granddaughters, Johnannah Rivera, Jaelynn Rivera, Alyssa Rivera, and sister-in-law Patty Smith. Left behind to mourn his passing are daughters Tina Louise Swanner (Ronnie) of Smyrna, Tennessee, and Ashley Ann Rivera (Gabriel) of Keavy, Kentucky, son Harlan Edward Smith of Girdler, Kentucky, brother Allen Smith, and nephew Allen Smith II. Ten grandchildren: Elizabeth Louise Swanner, Victoria Katlynn Swanner, Wesley Edward Swanner, Hope Lafountain, Faith Mayes, Aspen Mayes, Camila Rivera, Christian Rivera, Hailey Louise Smith, and Bentley Harlan Edward Smith, and one great grandchild, Emersyn Lindsey, also survive Johnny.
The Smith family has chosen as casket bearers former and current members of the Barbourville City Police Department. Honorary casket bearers are Mr. Smith’s beloved cousins and his good friend, Paul Wyatt.
The Smith Family will receive friends at Hopper Funeral Home on Friday, September 16, 2022, from 12:00 PM until the funeral hour of 1:00 PM. Reverend Dennis Chesnut will officiate. Interment will follow the funeral service in the Mount Olivet Cemetery at Tuttle, Knox County, Kentucky.
Service Arrangements for Johnny Edward Smith are as follows: The Smith family will receive friends at Hopper Funeral Home from 12:00 p.m. until the funeral hour of 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 16, 2022. Reverend Dennis Chesnut will officiate. Interment will follow in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Tuttle.
The Hopper Family, Victoria Hopper and Sally Hopper, along with the staff of Hopper Funeral Home, Inc. express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Johnny Edward Smith.
Hopper Funeral Home, Inc., established over 100 years ago, is in charge of servicing all arrangements for Johnny Edward Smith.
