Samuel Joseph “Dude” Smith, Jr. was born on August 6, 1966. He passed away on January 8, 2021 at the age of 54 at South Cameron Hospital with his brother and nephew beside him.
He is survived by son, Samuel Joseph Smith, III and wife Megan; son, William Gregory Smith; former wife, Paula Smith; mother, Paralee Smith; brother, Charles Prentiss Smith and wife Jill; nephew, Charles Prentiss Smith, Jr.; niece, Claire Yvette Smith; uncle, Bill Dowers, Sr. and family; aunt, Wanda Lee Broussard and family; and cousin, Corliss Lynn Cooper and husband Bryan.
Dude is preceded in death by his father, Samuel Joseph Smith, Sr.; maternal grandparents, Prentiss Jesse and Gladys Price; paternal grandparents, Joe and Anita Smith; aunt, Carol Ann “Nanny” Dowers; uncle, Charles Lee Smith; aunt, Annie Jane Smith; uncle, Fred Broussard, Sr.; cousin, James Joseph “Sonny” Smith; cousin, Jamie Cooper; and best friend, Greg Efferson.
Dude graduated as salutatorian in 1984 from DeQuincy High School where he served as Student Council President and lettered in multiple sports. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from McNeese State University in 1989 and a Master of Education degree from Lamar State University in 2011.
Dude began his coaching career in 1992 at Opelousas Catholic School and continued to teach and coach for 26 years before going to work at DOW Chemical in Freeport, TX. Dude was a member of the Louisiana High School Coaches Association, the Texas High School Coaches Association, and the National Football Coaches Association. He was an assistant coach for the boys’ soccer team at St. Louis Catholic School where he won a state championship in 1997. He served as Head Football Coach at Clear Lake High School from 2010-2015.
Services will be held at the DeQuincy United Methodist Church Gym on Friday, January 15, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., with Rev. James Barrett officiating. Visitation will be at the DeQuincy United Methodist Gym on Thursday, January 14, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Visitation will resume at the Church Gym on Friday, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Masonic Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to DeQuincy United Methodist Church, 301 E. Center St., DeQuincy, LA. 70633.
Services entrusted to Jordan and Amanda Mothershed of Hixson-Snider Funeral Home in DeQuincy. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonsnider.com.
