Services for William Earl Smith will be held on September 5, 2026, at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Bay Springs, Mississippi, with visitation from 9am-11am, followed by graveside services at St. Michael Catholic Church in Paulding, Mississippi. William Earl (known more as Weemurl than William Earl) died peacefully at his home on September 2, 2026. He was born on September 1, 1937, to Lester and Mary Ruth Smith in Montrose, Mississippi and preceded in death by his parents, brother, and his wife of 59 years, Martha.

William Earl was a man who enjoyed the simple things in life. He loved hunting deer and turkey, fishing, and mowing his lawn. But most of all, he loved his children and his grandchildren.

He believed in work and worked as long as he could, retiring from Colonial Chapel Funeral Home at the age of 85. William Earl was a perfectionist, and everyone at Colonial Chapel knew it. If he was going to do something, he was going to do it right. He paid attention to the smallest details and always wanted to make certain that everything was handled as it should be. More than anything, though, he wanted people to be taken care of. He understood that the families who came through the doors were often facing some of the hardest days of their lives, and he did whatever he could to make those days a little easier. The friendships he made at Colonial Chapel meant a great deal to him, and those relationships continued long after the workday ended. His co-workers became his extended family as did those he served.

William Earl loved people and truly never met a stranger. He could strike up a conversation just about anywhere, and before long, there was usually one of his stories involved. If you knew him, you heard those stories—probably more than once. You were probably also in some of them. They may have changed a bit through the years, but that only made them better.

When William Earl wasn't working, hunting, or fishing, there was a good chance he was mowing his lawn. He had a philosophy about grass: a lawn should be kept low and should never look like it had been mowed. He kept his grass that way for as long as he was physically able. At 87, when he was no longer able to mow it himself, he could often be found sitting on his back porch, watching it grow.

And if you knew William Earl, you probably felt like you knew his family, too. He talked about his children often and was proud of each of them. But his grandchildren gave him even more to talk about. He was immensely proud of them and their accomplishments, and he never hesitated to share that pride with others—sometimes whether they asked or not. He bragged on them often and probably too much, but that was simply who he was. None of his family ever doubted how very much they were loved.

He leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter along with his children, Missy (Walter) Probst, Michelle (Nathan) Crace, and Mikell (Tracie) Smith; and his grandchildren, Emily (Logan) Reeves, Cameron Crace (Kasey), Cole Crace, Anna Probst (Eli), John Probst, and Mason Smith. He is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth Jordan, and his brothers-in-law, John Paul (Joyce) McDevitt and Ricky (Judy) McDevitt.

There is sadness in saying goodbye, but there is also comfort in knowing that he is finally where he longed to be. Weeks ago, he began saying that he could hear Martha calling his name, and now, he can answer that call.

Pall bearers will be sons-in-law and grandsons; honorary pallbearers will be funeral directors and staff of Colonial Chapel Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Michael Catholic Church cemetery fund. Checks can be mailed to St. Michael Church - Paulding Cemetery Fund, 1352 East 3rd Street, Forest, MS 39074.

The family would also like to express their gratitude to the staff at Summerland Manor and Forrest General Hospice who cared for him with the utmost dignity, patience, and compassion during the last months of his life.