Vernon Lee Smith, was a devoted brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, 83, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2023, in Eustis Florida. Vernon Lee was born on April 24, 1940, to Vernon Letcher Smith and Annie (Nell) Screven in Eustis, Florida.
He graduated Umatilla High School in 1958, and was an avid member in the 4H Program. He went on to attend the Army National Guard and graduated in Tennessee from the United States Army Armor School (Armor Tracked Vehicle Mechanic School) in 1962.
Vernon Lee met the love of his life, Nancy Jane Wallace from Akron, New York in 1960 and they were married on August 27, 1964. They were blessed with two children, Sally and Russell (Rusty).
Vernon was an independent truck driver for 30+ years. He later went on to work, as a truck driver, for Golden Gem and Dura Stress. He retired in April, 2005, but continued to work part-time hauling honeybees to and from New York as well as spending summers in New York hauling apples for a local farm.
He is preceded in death by his mother, father, wife, sister Shirley Rabon and brother Michael Screven. He is survived by his daughter, Sally (Nick) Crisp, and son, Rusty Smith, brothers John E. Smith of Fairfax, South Carolina, Richard Smith of Palm Bay, Florida, Michael Smith of Florence, South Carolina, and sisters Catherine (Phil) Owens of Umatilla, Florida, Barbara Screven Calamari of Alpharetta, Georgia and Phoebe Bradshaw of Sorrento, Florida, five grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at Beyers Funeral Home, Umatilla on October 7, 2023. The family will receive friends and loved ones at the Funeral home from 10:00 am to 11:00 am with the service starting at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at Ponceannah Cemetery, Paisley.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to Altoona Eagles 4H Program and/or Altoona School Food Weekend Foodpack Program.
