Carl William "Buddy" SmithersJuly 25, 1937-July 28, 2017Carl William "Buddy" Smithers passed away on Friday, July 28, 2017 after a lengthy illness.Graveside services will be held at the Beard family plot at Oak Hill Cemetery, Jasper, AL, at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 5, 2017. No flowers requested and memorials to the Walker Area Community Foundation, First United Methodist Church, Jasper, Alabama or a . Honorary pallbearers will be members of Buddy's golf family at Musgrove Country Club.Carl was preceded in death by his mother, Evelyn Beard Thompson, Jasper, Alabama, his father Carl C. Smithers, Harlan, Kentucky, his in-laws Martha and J.D. Price, Knoxville, Tennessee, many loving aunts and uncles including Nellie Poer, W.A. Beard, and Iva and Wilson Beard, and his half-sister Judy Smithers Hall (Larry), Morrow, Ohio. Carl was born on July 25, 1937, near Harlan, Kentucky but spent part of his childhood and teenage years in Jasper, Alabama. After graduating from Walker County High School in 1955, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Following his military service, he attended East Tennessee State University. Carl spent most of his adult life in Knoxville, Tennessee with his loving family and numerous friends. A sales representative for various companies in the paper industry, he at one time was a business owner. After his retirement, he will be remembered by many as an associate at American Clothing in Knoxville.An avid golf and Alabama football fan, the last few years of his life were spent with great enthusiasm and joy in participating in and enjoying these sports with his many friends. Buddy will be remembered for his outgoing personality, his generous spirit, his love of life, and his enthusiasm especially related to spending time with his children and grandchildren. He is survived by daughter Missy Smithers Millhouse (Todd-Retired USAF), Navarre, Florida, son former Lt. Cmdr. Michael T. Smithers, Pinehurst, North Carolina, Virginia Bruce Brown, his high school sweetheart who in 2013 joined with him in sharing the last years of his life, Barbara Brown Medders and Tina Brown Morrow, daughters of Virginia, half siblings Robert Smithers (Pam), Lexington, Kentucky, Jenny Smithers Hamilton (Leo), Bardstown, Kentucky, and Larry Smithers (Sandy), Lexington, Kentucky, grandchildren Haley L. Beckley (Zach), Hebert, Louisiana, Hunter Lowentritt, Louisiana Tech University, Rustin, Louisiana, cousins Elizabeth Radford, Knoxville, Tennessee and Brenda Beard, Jasper, Alabama, the mother of his children Toni Dubiel, Knoxville, Tennessee, and many other nephews, nieces, relatives and friends including his golfing companions at Musgrove Country Club in Jasper, Alabama.You may register online at www.kilgoregreenfuneralhome.com.