Obituary of Drayton Earl Smiley

Shreveport, LA.-Services for Drayton Earl Smiley, 89, will be held Friday, April 3, 2015 at 1:00pm at Boone Funeral Home, Meriwether Rd., Shreveport. Officiating will be Brother Bill Kincaid. Burial will follow at Sand Springs Cemetery in Mineola, TX., Hwy. 69 North, Mineola. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm Thursday, April 2, 2015 at Boone Funeral Home, Shreveport. Drayton was born on January 28, 1926 to Arthur Elcaney and Princella Bishop Smiley in Mineola, TX. He went to be with the Lord our Savior on Monday, March 30, 2015. He graduated from Quitman High School in 1944. Upon graduation he proudly served two years in the U.S. Navy, followed by dedicated service in the Merchant Marines as a purser. He then enjoyed a long and prestigious career in the insurance industry, first with Southern Life and Health, and then Southwest Reports. Upon his retirement, he enjoyed being a personal driver for Netherton Construction and volunteering weekly at the Overton Brooks V.A. Hospital for seven years. Drayton enjoyed numerous hobbies throughout the years, including gardening, fishing, camping, reading, refinishing antique furniture, working with stained glass and feeding the birds. Drayton was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, and one sister. Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 53 years, JoAnn C. Smiley; one brother, Bill G. Smiley and wife, Charlotte, of Austin, TX.; daughters Carmen R. Smiley of Shreveport, and Sharon S. Webb, and husband, Adam, of Memphis, TN.; one son, Danny Smiley and fiance Kim Powell of Benton, LA.; three grandchildren; Austin T. Smiley, Benton K. Webb, and Sophia S. Webb., and numerous nieces and nephews. Honoring him as pallbearers will be Paul Metts, Scotty McNeill, Austin Smiley, Adam Webb, and Benton Webb. The family wishes to thank all of the wonderful nurses and staff at the V.A. Hospital that so graciously took care of him during this final stay.