Doyle Smothers

Tupelo - DOYLE RICE SMOTHERS, 89, died Tuesday, February 19, 2008, at Avonlea Assisted Living after a brief illness. A native of Crockett Mills, Tenn., he was born September 1, 1918 to the late John Calvin and Mary Lether Rice Smothers. He married Pearline Tucker Smothers in 1938. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving 31 months overseas with the 3rd Army in France. After the war, he and Pearline returned to Tupelo where he took a job as bookkeeper at Coley Implement Co., the John Deere tractor dealership in the area. In 1966 he became a co-owner of Coley Implement Co. and operated the business with his partner, Leo Davis, until he retired in 1990. He was an active member and strong supporter of Parkway Baptist Church throughout the years and he served for 20 years as a Board Member of the Tupelo Public School District. As an avid golfer and sports fan, he enjoyed playing golf several times a week with his golf group, Doyles Dandies.

Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Dr. Paul Brashier, pastor of Parkway Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park.

Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Pearline T. Smothers of Tupelo; two sons, William D. Smothers (Karen) of Tupelo and David L. Smothers (Jennifer) of Tupelo; five grandchildren, Alecia Anne McMath (Michael) of Cordova, Tenn., Kara L. Penny (Doug) of Saltillo, Mary Elizabeth Smothers of Oxford, D. Brian Smothers (Melissa) of Milwaukee, Wisc., and Joseph C. Smothers of Tupelo; one sister-in-law, Dolores Smothers, of Chicago, Il.
.

He was preceded in death by his parents, twin brothers, Harrell and Darrell, and brother, Jack Smothers.

Pallbearers will be Brian Smothers, Joseph Smothers, Doug Penny, Michael McMath, Rudolph Franks and Curtis Cockrell

Honorary Pallbearers will be the former employees of Coley Implement Co. and the members of Doyle's Dandies, his golfing group.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Building Fund at Parkway Baptist Church, 1302 Lee Street, Tupelo, MS 38804.