Marine Bledsoe Smith, 90, of Fayetteville, Tennessee, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, at Vanderbilt–Harton Hospital in Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Funeral services will be held at noon Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at Higgins Funeral Home with Bro. Billy Taylor and Bro. Johnny Garrett officiating. Burial will follow in the Old Orchard Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday at Higgins.

Marine, the youngest of five children, was born on June 28, 1933, in Fayetteville, Tennessee, to the late William Alexander Smith and Anna Mae Barnes Smith. At a young age, Marine committed his heart to his Lord our God, being saved and baptized at the age of 14 at Beech Grove Methodist Church. Mr. Smith was a 1951 graduate of Boonshill High School. After graduation he enlisted in the US Navy serving six years and then reentered the US Air Force serving eight years.

After his military career, Marine was a beef cattle farmer, owned Smith Roofing, owned M&M Catering, was a founding member of the Egan Baptist Church, and formerly a member of the Gideons. Mr. Smith was clever and was filled to the brim with knowledge that he gained through his life experiences. No matter where he was stationed or lived, Marine never left behind the teaching of Christ, serving as a Pastor, associate Pastor, and Sunday school teacher. Mr. Smith was a leader, a man of integrity, and was deeply committed to his family and faith. Marine currently served as the associate pastor of Petersburg First Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Murriel Dean Smith; children, Wanda Smith (Rocky) Locker, Belinda Smith (Guy) Patrick, and Clifford Smith; bonus children, Mark (Teresa) Holloway, and Angela (Robert) Dupree; grandchildren, Reen Locker (Jamison) Baskin, Ryan (Sarah) Locker, Celess Locker (Cory) Friend, Maghan (Chase) Cowley, Mollee (Jake) Berzett, and Macey (Mick) Hill; bonus grandchildren, Seth (Jacklyn) Garrett, Cordell (Kayla) Garrett, Zebulun Holloway, Christopher Holloway, Krystalynn (Ben) Walls, Timothy Dupree, and McKinzie (Dustin) Clark; great-grandchildren, Rylan, Macklen and Locke Baskin, Madeline and Emma Locker, Camden, Carter, and Cyless Friend, and Grady and Charlee Berzett; bonus great-grandchildren, Curston, Cayson, Aiden, Huntington, Remmington, Herman, Kinsley, Crimson, Elli, Lilly, and Amelia; and nieces Patsy Turner Campbell, and Shirley Smith Jeans.

In addition to his parents, Marine was preceded in death by his first wife, Doris McMillan Smith; siblings, Thomas Smith, Garrett Smith, Margaret Turner, and Doris Stewmon; great-granddaughter, Klare Cowley; bonus grandson, Cassie Jay Hamlin; and bonus great-granddaughter, Ally Clark.

Higgins Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Marine Bledsoe Smith.