Visitation for R. L. "Smitty" Smith will be held at Basham Funeral Care (3312 Niles Street) on Friday, September 15, 2006 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at Calvary Chapel of Bakersfield (1212 Brentwood Drive) on Saturday morning, September 16, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.

Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

R. L. is preceded in death by his mother and father, Sarah Cupps and Joe Smith; son-in-law, Ronnie Smith and his brother-in-law, Vernon Palmer.

He leaves behind to celetrate his life his wife, Margarett Smith; daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and Mike Bigler; daughter, Debbie Smith; grandchildren, Jason Johnson and Krystal Smith all of Bakersfield; brother and sister-in-law, Edward and Darlene Smith; sister, Josie Lou Fields; sister and brother-in-law, Jean and Johnny Mulkey; sister, Winnie Smith; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jerry and Debbie Palmer; sister-in-law, Carol Palmer as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Smitty was born December 11, 1933 in Blanco, Oklahoma and he went to be with our Lord and Savior on September 7, 2006. His family moved to Bakersfield when he was 12 years old.

He worked for Hank Broughton in his neighborhood grocery store for a few years in his late teens.

He married Margarett Palmer, his wife of 54 years at the age of 19.

He went to work in the oilfields in his early 20s at Pacific Western which was owned by J. Paul Getty which later became Tidewater Association. Then the name was change to Getty Oil CO. and later was bought out by Texaco Oil.

In his early years he worked on a production rig and he later became a foreman working his way up to senior production foreman.

He retired in the late 1980s after 30 years of service. He had a passion for growing things. He had a beautiful garden and lots of fruit trees. He died at home being able to look out and see his garden and trees from his bedroom. That made him very happy.

He sometimes could be a gruff man but all who knew him personally knew of the kind and gentle person he really was.

His family was very important to him. The family would like to thank the nurses of Bakersfield Heart Hosital for their wonderful care.

We will be seeing you in God's garden.

For additional service or floral delivery information, please contact Basham Funeral Care at 873-8200.

Basham Funeral Care

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