John Bert Smith

John Bert Smith, age 84, born May 1, 1931, in Corbin, KY to John V. and Mary E. Smith, went home to be with the Lord Monday, March 21, 2016. He was a longtime resident of Blount County, a member of Springview Baptist Church, also a member of Masonic Chota Lodge #253 and Burlington Lodge where he served as Lodge Master and was a 50 year plus member of the Free and Accepted Masons of Tennessee. He was a veteran of the Korean War where he served proudly as a Staff Sergeant in the 7th Infantry Division, Artillery. John retired from the Knoxville Sentinel newspaper, after 37 years of service, where he was employed as a proof reader and served the Union as a steward. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Bonnie Valentine Smith; brothers, Lawrence Wyatt, Willis Smith, Tom Smith; sisters, Marie S. Kidd, Rosetta S. Kidd, Kathleen S. Dizney, Joie S. Rader, Ruth S. Carr. He is survived by his wife, Thelma Keener Murphy Smith; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews and friends. Funeral services will be at 7:00 p.m. Thursday in McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Lanny Wyatt officiating. Family and friends will meet at 11:00 a.m. Friday at Concord Cemetery (Chota) for the interment service. The family will receive friends from 6-7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Springview Baptist Church, 4220 U. S. Hwy. 411 S., Maryville, TN 37801.