Taylor Funeral Home

Obituaries
Russell Lucian Smith
Date of Death or Service Apr 4, 2015
Russell Lucian Smith
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Age 89, of Nashville, formerly of Vanleer.  Born Jan. 21, 1926 at his grandmother, Mama Verma’s house in Montgomery Co., died April 4, 2015.  Lucian was a rural mail carrier for the Vanleer Community for 39 ½ years. His greatest passion in life was being on the farm and raising cattle. He started with one Black Angus cow. At the age of 85, he managed a farm over 100 acres and close to 100 cows by himself. At the age of 16, he was asked to drive the school bus because all of the men were fighting in World War II. At age 18, he was drafted into the Army and spent time in the Pacific and Alaska. The memories of WWII came back to haunt him as he struggled with dementia. He loved growing things, going fishing and tending to his cows. He was a good father to his girls, ensuring that they went to college so that they “didn’t have to depend on a man to survive.” He was a member of the Masons, on the Board of Directors for the Vanleer People’s Bank. He purchased land behind his house when a neighbor needed the money to bury her husband. He was a member of the Vanleer United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his Wife of 63 years, Margaret McCurdy Smith; and Parents, Edwin and Lurline Smith. 

Survived by his Daughters, Linda (Jimmy) McDowell of Lebanon, Barbara (Mike) Allen, Nashville, Carole Wilson of Knoxville; Sister, Vema (Phillip) Minor of Brentwood; Grandchildren, Jim (Meredith) McDowell of Lebanon, Beth (Eric) Peterson of Gallatin, Brian Allen of Nashville, David Allen of Seattle, Russ (Nicole) Wilson of Knoxville; Great Grandchildren, Mac Peterson, Avery McDowell, Sam Allen, Caroline, Laura and Meghan Wilson; Niece, Lynee (Jim) Durham; Nephew, Randy Minor.

The family would like to thank Tyson Olivio and the caregivers at Assisted Family Care, the nurses and caregivers at Mary, Queen of Angels, especially TULU (the nurse whom he adored), for their kind and excellent care over the past few years.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 from 1pm until time of service. A funeral service is scheduled for Tuesday at 3:30pm at the Taylor Funeral Home. Place of rest will be in the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery. For those desiring, memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital or to Habitat for Humanity.


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