Woodrow 'Woody' Smith

Dr. Woodrow "Woody" Smith, 86, of Rogers went home to Heaven Saturday Dec. 6, 2014, in his home surrounded by his loving family. Woody was born March 16, 1928, in Hot Springs, Ark., the son of Jefferson W. and Bessie Marie McCombs Smith. Woody was "A Good and Faithful Servant" and served in the United Methodist Conference in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana; he was a member of the Bland Chapel United Methodist and also a Paul Harris Fellow-Rotarian. Woody graduated from Southern Methodist University and Perkins School of Theology. He served on the board for the Healing Gardens of NWA, Rocky Branch Fire Department, Bland Chapel United Methodist Church and Mount Eagle Christian Center. He was the recipient of the Benemerenti Medal, an honorary medal from his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, thanking him for bringing the Catholics, Jewish, Protestants together in Super Dome of New Orleans for worship. Woody was much an Eccumentical clergy. He built a Sioux Indian Tipi in his younger days, then spent many years camping inside with his children and grandchildren; he floated the Buffalo River for 49 years and loved Beaver Lake. He enjoyed traveling the world, being outdoors at his home, gardening, playing dominoes and drinking Dr. Pepper. Woody wrote and published "The Twelve Who Walked Galilee." He is preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Martin Smith; and one sister, Barbara Jean Jarman. He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Freda Smith of the home; four children, Cheryl Weigle of Houston, Texas, Chaplain Rev. Pamela Cicioni of Rogers, Jerry Smith of Beaver and Donnie Smith of Bella Vista; stepchildren, Steve Jackson, Karen Fullen and Dr. Douglas Jackson; his brother, Stanley Smith of Dallas, Texas; and his sister, Valerie Halbach of Elk Grove, Calif.; grandchildren, Matt Weigle, Erin Moore, Hannah Cicioni and Andrew Smith; step-grandchildren, Maradyth McKenzie, Devon Rogers and Carly Jackson; seven great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, at the Bland Chapel United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Pamela Cicioni, the Rev. Dawn Spragg and the Rev. Judy Rudd-Platt. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the following: Woody's first priority the Healing Gardens of NWA (in honor of his wife, Freda Smith, who is a cancer survivor, and for Pamela's vision); other contributions to the Rocky Branch Fire Department or Bland Chapel United Methodist Church. Arrangements by Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th, Rogers. Online condolences to www.bentoncountyfuneralhome.com.