Tracy Smith

Tracy Wallace Smith, our beloved dad, paw paw, and old man paw paw, age 85, left his earthly family to be with his loving wife, our mother, Inez Smith, on August 26, 2021.

He lived a long and fulfilled life with his family who he adored tremendously.  He was the son of Homer and Inez Rose of Gulfport where he grew up and attended St. John High School.  After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy for a short period of time.  Tracy married his love Inez and raised his family in Long Beach.  He worked for the Union Teamsters as a truck driver for 30 years.  He enjoyed spending time at Long Beach Harbor crabbing and boiling seafood for anyone that happened to be there.  He was well known for being the best seafood boiler of his time.

After retirement, he found joy in helping his wife with her home daycare.  He loved all the children as his own.  He was called paw paw by many.  When our mother was diagnosed with ALS, he was there for her from the beginning to the end.  After she passed away, he became the glue that held us all together.

He will be deeply missed by his children, Larry Smith (Raylene), Timothy Smith, Donota O’Connell, and Tracie Smith; his grandchildren, Lauren Saegert (Jeffery), Lydia Gordon (Jayson), Corey Smith (Courtney), and Emily O’Connell he nicknamed “Woo Woo;” his great-grandchildren, Madelyn he nicknamed “crawfish”, Jackson, Declan, Carter, and Cambreigh; and many other relatives and friends.

“Grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we loved.  Where there is deep grief, there was great love.” We love you pops and will miss you always.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3 pm on Thursday, September 2, 2021, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 720 E Beach Blvd., Long Beach.  Visitation will be from 2 – 3 pm in the church.  Interment will be in Long Beach City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

The RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Long Beach, is serving the family and online condolences may be offered at www.riemannfamily.com