Lowell Keith Smith

Lowell Keith Smith, (84), of Panama City Beach, Florida, passed away on October 17, 2025 in Panama City Beach, Florida.

Lowell Keith Smith was born in Odessa, Missouri to Roy Lee and Arthenia Izola (Luney) Smith on November 17, 1940. He was the youngest of three boys. Raised on a humble farm in Leeton, Missouri where he went to school and graduated in 1958. He had an Associates Degree from Warrensburg University in Pre-Engineering and Electronics plus he was a Med Corpsman and Med Specialist in the Army where he received all his medical training.

Lowell was a veteran of The Vietnam War and served in the Army as a Medic and Sharp Shooter. After being Honorably discharged from the Army, Lowell worked most notably as a Technical Engineer and Information Technology Specialist for Burroughs/Unisys Corporation for 20 years before retiring early. He married Shirley Faye Smith on January 14, 1989 in Cullman County, Alabama. Lowell became a truck driver for 6 years until his wife got sick and he had to leave the road to take care of her. Lowell then became a manager at a pen factory for 5 years until he had to quit to stay home full time to take care of his wife until she passed away. Lowell moved in with his oldest daughter, Tammie Smith, in Panama City Beach, Florida and helped her with computer consulting and productions at Smith International Productions, LLC for many years.

Lowell also received a diploma from the Bible Universe University for satisfactory completion of the Bible Prophecy course, the Storacles of Prophecy, Amazing Facts of the Bible and the Study Guide required by the College. Lowell was part of a bowling league, he could play the violin, he liked to hunt, fish and loved to golf, and write computer code and play computer games. He was most happy on a farm, in the woods or on the water in a boat. He was an honest, kindhearted and hardworking family man who gave more love than he received. He was also a really good cook from scratch and had more cook books than he could ever use. He fought so hard to the very end to beat the odds that were against him because he said he wanted to make it to his 100th birthday but his body didn’t hold up to his mind’s end of the bargain.

Lowell Keith Smith is preceded in death by his parents: Roy Lee Smith(father), Arthenia Izola Luney Smith(mother), Shirley Faye Smith(second wife), Donald Lee Smith(older brother), Baby Smith(sibling), Mary Belle Rickard Smith(sister-in-law), Dorothy Francis Stephens Smith(sister-in-law), Maybeline Lawrence Crowe(sister-in-law), Dudley Crowe(brother-in-law), Charles Leland Lawrence(brother-in-law), UnaFaye Lawrence (sister-in-law), Marjorie Lawrence Lovett(sister-in-law), Leonard Gary Lawrence(brother-in-law), Mary Louise Smith(sister-in-law), Thomas Lawrence(brother-in-law), Janice Lawrence Whetstone(sister-in-law), Kenneth Ray Lawrence (brother-in-law), Derek Keith Smith(nephew), Donnie W Lee (nephew), Derek LeWan Tubbs(nephew), Geoff Svidish (like a son-in-law), David Lee McConville(great nephew), Jeffrey Michael “Mike” Svidish (great nephew), two niece babies, three nephew babies, three grand babies and one great grand baby.

Lowell Keith Smith is survived by His Two Daughters: Tammie Smith and Dr. Tonya Smith Bright; Larry “Todd” Bright(son-in-law) and Deborah “Debbie” Sue Lee Svidish(niece he raised like his child); Raymond Eugene Smith(older brother), Carol Ann McAllister Smith(sister-in-law), Debbie Lawrence(sister-in-law), Faye Lawrence Massengill(sister-in-law), two nieces who were raised like his sisters: Juanita Ann Smith Artuso and Donna Marie Smith McConville; 6 Grandchildren: Stephanie Nichole Schoeni, Alex Schoeni(step-grandson), Robert “Robbie” David Rushton, Dr. Ashley Denise Rushton, Sierra Kylie Herron, and Larsen Caleb Bright(step-grandson); 2 Great-Grandchildren: Ezra Jacob Schoeni and Holden Ray Schoeni; 34 nieces and nephews; 57 great nieces and nephews; 49 Great great nieces and nephews; 9 Great great great nieces and nephews; Jim and Kay Chappell(life long friends), and Shirley Ann Honeycutt(first ex wife).

A Celebration of Life Gathering and Graveside Service will be held by the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Leeton, Missouri (future date to be set) at the Mineral Creek Cemetery, 525 N Lee St, Leeton, MO 64761 where Lowell will receive an honor guard, the playing of taps and a flag presentation by the United States Army for his honorable service.

The family of Lowell Keith Smith wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Ismail Zabih for being there during the hardest time at the end as well as his Hospice nurse Michael and Nicki with Emerald Coast Hospice and their entire team. We would also like to thank Dr. Laura Yauch who caught everything years ago and got the ball rolling for his care with the VA system and VA Dr.’s. We would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Marc McKinley for his patience and guidance, and the VA Dr.’s: Dr. Victoria Bryan, Dr. Joann Holoka and Dr. William Hardin who have helped for over two and a half decades along with their great staff of nurses: Charles, Gene, Heather and Misty with the PAC Team 2 who supported us with the medically necessary medications, equipment and supplies through 24 surgeries, Bell’s Palsy twice, a stroke, many other illnesses as they occurred, numerous hospitalizations and then some. And the on-call Dr at the hospital who let us know he only had about two weeks left so we could spend as much time together as possible(24/7) and we stretched it out to almost three weeks before Lowell gained his angel wings. They all went above and beyond, and we are forever grateful for everything they did. May God bless them as they continue the great work that they do!