Hayward Bennett Smith

© Okemah News Leader

4 November 1990

Submitted by: Brenda Franklin

Funeral services for Haywood Bennett Smith, 88, were held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., in the First Christian Church of Weleetka with the Rev. Harry England officiating. Smith died Nov. 1 in Henryetta Medical Center after a long illness.

Smith was born at Custar, Ohio on April 1, 1902. He was the son of John Henry and Jennie (Markey) Smith. Smith was one of the first graduates from Dustin High School. He and his family had moved from Ohio to the Dustin area in 1919. Smith had been an employee of General Motors in the Pontiac, Michigan prior to becoming a partner in the Chevrolet-Oldsmobile dealership in Weleetka. He was active in the ownership of this dealership until he retired in 1969. He was married to Miss Kathryn Ford at Carrier, on November 28, 1935. The couple has made their home in Weleetka since that time. Smith was an elder and member of the First Christian Church in Weleetka and had served as president of the Weleetka Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Weleetka and a member of the McAlester Consistory. At the time he became a 32nd degree Mason, he was the youngest man to Oklahoma to do so.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Kathryn Smith, of the home in Weleetka, one daughter, Kay S. Hatton, Santa Fe, New Mexico; one brother, Marvin smith, Yuma, Arizona; one sister, Lelah Crawford, San Diego, Calif.; one brother in law, W.E. Ford, Carrier; one sister in law, Mrs. Charles Ellis, Mineola, Texas, one grand-daughter, Karen Hatton, Santa Fe, New Mexico and several nieces and nephews.

Active pallbearers were Johnny Morgan, Clarence Norman, Ed Williams, Bob Burden, Mack Williams, Cloyce Fite, Jack Ellard, and Dan Parrish. Honorary pallbearers were Joe Caperton, Jack King, Ed Cook and Estel Reid.

Interment was in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Weleetka under the direction of the Parks Brothers Funeral Home.