>From the knoxville News Sentinel 12 Feb 2007 SMITH, ELY JOE - age 74 of Tazewell, passed away suddenly on the morning of February 10, 2007 at his home. Born in Daisy, Kentucky, Mr. Smith had worked as a coal miner, a sawmill operator, a mine foreman, a mining inspector, and finally, as a coal operator before moving to Tennessee, where he operated an auto parts store. He treasured his family and friends and will be long remembered as the consummate storyteller and practical joker. He will be sorely missed by: his wife of 51 years, Mary Elizabeth Oliver Smith; his favorite children, Shirley Broughton Robinson (Doug), Debra Joy Riley (Louis), Libby Slusher (James), and Randall (O.T.) Keith Smith (Portia); grandchildren, Lezlie Jo Slusher McCroy (Patrick), Brandon Slusher; Ian, Tristan and Grant Riley; Chandler and Corbett Smith. Mr. Smith was preceded in death by: his parents, Ransom Smith and Eva Carter Smith; siblings, John L. Smith, Odell Smith, Mary Shepherd Cornett; three infant siblings; half-sister, Patricia Smith Thompson. Survivors include: half-siblings, Oscar and Estil Smith, Linda Smith, Paul Smith and Lora E. Asher; step-mother, Celeste Smith; ex- wife, Cleda McNulty Smith and a host of friends. Mr. Smith was a 50+ year member of the Nolan Masonic Lodge #806. The family will receive friends from 4-7:30 pm Monday, February 12, 2007 at the Claiborne Funeral Home with funeral services to follow at 7:30 pm in the Claiborne Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Eddie Overholt and the Rev. Jim Blevins officiating. Music by The Cedar Grove Baptist Church Choir. Graveside services will be conducted at 10:00 am Tuesday at the Green Hills Cemetery in Middlesboro, Kentucky with Masonic services. Family and friends will meet at the cemetery. Pallbearers: grandsons. Honorary pallbearer: Ray McKinney. Claiborne Funeral Home, New Tazewell, TN in charge of arrangements. =========================================== SUPPORT OUR TROOPS---FLY THE FLAG "Genealogy is like playing hide and seek. They hide I seek!!! Searching: BYRGE/BUNCH/DAUGHERTY/DUNCAN/KENNEDY/ PATTERSON/PHILLIPS/SEIBER/TACKETT/WARD