Loyd Madison Smith was born on February 7, 1924.  He was the first-born son of Stella Buck Smith and Filus Elias Smith.  He grew up working on his great-grandparents' farm and wandering through the hills and hollers around the Smith family homestead in Hot Spring County.  His life was marked by hard work, discipline, a thirst for useful knowledge, and doing what he thought was right.  He also became a devoted husband father, an avid conservationist, and a self-starter who learned new skills quickly and put them to use.

Loyd met the love of his life Mildred Viola Robertson Smith when she was still in high school.  They corresponded while he served as a pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II.  They married in September 21, 1946.  With Mildred, he had three children, demanding that they become honest, self-reliant, dependable, thrifty, and hard-working citizens.  Loyd loved the outdoors, thriving, first, in productive farm life and, later, in his 23 years as a Wildlife Officer for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.  Despite encouraging his children, all of whom ended up in "desk" jobs, Loyd would have hated sitting at a desk.  He was meant to be in nature, among the trees, the rivers and lakes, the animals, the fields, the garden, and where he could see the results of his work.

Loyd was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years Mildred, both of his parents, and by his younger brother Kenneth.

Survivors are children Jane Kriigel (Jim), Filus Smith (Breck Birdsong), Kay Snavely (Bill), grandchildren Matt Kriigel (Leah), Millie Aaron, Michael Snavely (Jeanne), Sarah Osinkosky (Josh), and Emersyn Stella Smith; great grandchildren Hayley Mason (Keith), Brailyn McCarter, Chad Aaron, Lucas Aaron, Walker Aaron, Molly Osinkosky, Clara Osinkosky, and Edie Snavely; and great-grandchildren Garrett Mason, Gabriella Mason, and Grayson Burris.

Visitation will be Tuesday, August 23 from 9:30–11:00 a.m. at Regency Funeral Home with Celebration of Life immediately following at 11:00 with Reverend Troy Cate and Bill Snavely officiating.  Burial will follow in Rockport Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Matt Kriigel, Chad Aaron, Lucas Aaron, Walker Aaron, Keith Mason, Jeff Crow, Bill Bridges, and David Elrod.  Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Snavely, Josh Osinkosky, Alfred Elrod, and Daryl Smith.

Memorials may be made to Rockport Cemetery, P.O. Box 182, Malvern, Arkansas 72104.

Loyd's family sincerely thanks Dr. Dylan Thaxton and staff; Dr. David Griffin and Kim Jobe; Kindred Hospice and their caring staff, particularly Tammy Lawrence and Angel Vinson and colleagues; caregivers Faye Fenix and Vanessa Huell.  All of them extended and enhanced Loyd's quality of life.

Arrangements are made by Regency Funeral Home. You may sign the guestbook at www.regency funeral home.com .