John "Spiggy" LeRoy Smith III, 64, of Kelly passed from his earthly life on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center-Bladen Health Care in Elizabethtown.

He was born October 30, 1947 in Wilmington, the son of John LeRoy Smith, Jr. of Kelly and the late Inez Thomas "Tommie" Hunt Smith.

In addition to his father he is survived by his wife of 14 ½ years, Hannah Louise Bank Smith; step-son, James Leon Henderson (Tina) of Denver, Colorado; uncle, James E. "Buck" Hunt of Rose Hill; aunt, Wilhelmina McDaniel of Clarkton; and good friend, Preston Thomas; and several cousins.

John served his country honorably in the US Navy. For several years he worked in the Northshipco Shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia.

He loved his family and had a steadfast, quiet faith in the Lord. Sparkplug was his handle on his CB radio and he greatly enjoyed being a ham radio operator. He enjoyed the simple things in life, but his greatest joy was family, ocean fishing and NASCAR racing. His bright smile, hardy laughter, warm heart, and gentle manner will long be remembered.

Graveside funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Smith Family Cemetery, 5 miles west of Kelly on NC Hwy 53, with the Rev. Jack Miller officiating.

Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family by selecting "Memory Wall" above.Graveside funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Smith Family Cemetery, 5 miles west of Kelly on NC Hwy 53, with the Rev. Jack Miller officiating.