Mr. Raymond Richard Smith age 89, of Dalton, Georgia, departed this life Friday, May 1, 2026, at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was born May 3, 1936 in Dalton, Georgia, a son of the late Arthur and Ruby Patton Smith. He was also preceded in death by his wife Patsie Sue Byers Smith, sons Randy Smith, Richard Smith, daughter and son-in-law, Delores and Harris “Bud” Thomason, brothers Arthur Smith Jr., Billy and Stacy Smith, Frank Smith, sister Elizabeth Smith.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Doris Smith; daughter, Leedeal “Dale” Sheffield of Dalton, GA; brother and sister-in-law, Denver and Maggie Smith of Dalton, GA; sisters and brother-in-law, Mary Burkett of Rocky Face, GA, Betty Jean and Buddy Marchman, Janice Daugherty of Dalton, GA; sister-in-law, Maedell Peirce of Dalton, GA; grandchildren, Jennifer and Jason Gibson, Dia and Brian Curtis, Shalonda and Joey Lyons, Lacey and Michael Forgey, Michelle Mooney, Jordan and Haylee McClure, Tyson and Jessica McClure, Austin Sheffield and Kaylee Davis, Misty Smith; great grandchildren, Kiya and Dustin Cochran, Abigail Curtis, Dustin and Kassie Gibson, Morgan Gibson, Audrey and Jay Cunningham, Katelyne and Luke Sutton, Madison Mooney, Hayden and Peyton McClure, Landon McClure, Emory Sheffield, Shelby and Dakota Mowery, Dalton and Ashley Forgey, April Forgey, Alex Evans, Brian Forgey, Ella Forgey, Jaelynn Anderson, Anna Lyons; great great grandchildren, Tessa, Natalie, Jaxon, Cole; several other great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Service to celebrate the life of Mr. Raymond Richard Smith will be held Thursday May 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. from the Ponders Melrose Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday. He will be laid to rest beside his wife and son at the Ponders Whitfield Memorial Gardens with Jordan McClure, Tyson McClure, Dustin Gibson, Austin Sheffield, Dustin Cochran, Brian Curtis and Jason Gibson serving as pallbearers.

Arrangements are entrusted to Ponders Melrose Chapel of Dalton, Georgia. “Your Selected Independent Funeral Home”