Earl Franklin Smith

Earl Franklin Smith, 75, of Connelly Springs, NC died Sunday, December 4, 2016 at Grace Hospital. He was born in Burke County, NC on July 7, 1941 and was the son of the late Franklin Boyd Smith and Baby Ruth Smith. Earl was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Working was his life passion and he loved animals and gardening.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by son-in-law, Tracy Huffman.
Earl is survived by his wife of 60 years, Verlie Crawley Smith; sons, Ricky Smith and wife, Natalie, Steve Smith and wife, Kathy, Scottie Smith and wife, Kimberly, and Kevin Smith and wife, Penny all of Morganton; daughter, Teresa Smith and boyfriend, Bryan “Peewee” of Morganton; brothers, Tom Smith of Morganton, Walter Smith of Connelly Springs, Lee Smith of Rutherfordton, John Smith of Connelly Springs, Billy Smith of Morganton, and Donald Smith of Granite Falls; sisters, Carol Stroupe of Morganton, Barbara Townsend of Granite Falls, Faye Greene and Linda Foster both of Morganton; nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 7, 2016 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with Reverends Eddy Bunton and Doug Price officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church Cemetery.
At other times the family will be at the residence on Mt. Gilead Church Rd.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.sossomanfh.com.