Orvis L. "Smitty" Smith

Orvis L. ""Smitty"" Smith, resident of Gulfport died on the 14th of May 2012, at the age of 86. He was born on the 14th of December 1925 in Henley Field, MS. He married Nellie Lee Smith on the 14th of December 1946.
He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. While serving in the Navy during World War II, he served in the Pacific Theatre of Operations and participated in the Battle of the Leyte Gulf and later returned to the Philippines with General MacArthur. After returning home from World War II, he reenlisted in the United States Army Air Corp and later retired from the United States Air Force in 1966. He received the United States Air Force Commendation Medal for the best Food Service in the United States Air Force, and numerous other medals and awards.
After serving his country in the United States Navy and Air Force, he worked for 15 years for Jay Jay Chevrolet. He worked for many years and retired from the Mississippi Employment Service in 1988.
He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, York-Rite Mason, and a member of the Polar Star Lodge #154 for 54 years. While a Mason, he was a member of the International Order of Rainbow Gulfport Assembly #10 Advisory Board and Rainbow Dad; during that time he was honored with the Grand Cross of Color by the organization. Also, he was a member for the Wahabi Shrine Temple in Jackson, MS, the Long Beach #306 Eastern Star Chapter, and the American Legion Post 119 in Gulfport. He was a faithful member of Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Gulfport.
Highlights of the last few years included being an advisor for Lynn Meadows Discovery Center WINGS Performing Arts production of WINGS Canteen touring show in 2011-2012 and being a participant in Mississippi Gulf Coast Honor Flight #2 in September 2011. He is being honored by the WINGS program with dedication of their summer production of Peter Pan Takes Flight to him.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Lucy Parker Smith; father, William Fred Smith; and brother, Otis Smith; and three sisters, Ola Rae Ford, Olga Mae Bales, and Oni Faye Hewitt.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nellie K. Smith; son, Jerry W. Smith, Lieutenant Colonel US Army retired and wife Kansas of Gulfport; daughter, Donna Smith Miller of Gulfport; and granddaughter, Katherine ""Katie"" Miller of Gulfport.
Friends are invited to a visitation with the family from nine o'clock in the morning until eleven o'clock in the morning on Friday, the 18th of May 2012 at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road in Gulfport. The funeral service is to be conducted at eleven o'clock on Friday, the 18th of May 2012, in the chapel of the funeral home. Immediately following, the interment will take place at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Gulfport with Full Military Honors and Masonic Rites.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family wishes donations be made to the Joppa Shrine Temple Transportation Fund.
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Tributes may be offered at www.riemannfamily.com