Peggy Deason Smith

Peggy Joyce Deason Smith, beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother, passed away March 21, 2017 in DeRidder, LA.

Peggy was born October 4, 1938 in Pitkin, LA, the eldest daughter of Marcus and Estelle (Maddox) Deason.  She spent her girlhood in Pitkin and graduated from Pitkin High School in 1957.  She married her childhood sweetheart, Jackie L. Smith of Pitkin that October and the couple was blessed with two daughters, a son, and 53 years of marriage.

Peggy attended the Canal Zone Junior College and graduated with honors from the University of South Carolina.  She went on to earn a master’s degree in education from McNeese State University.  A dedicated educator, Peggy taught for more than 25 years at DeRidder High School, where she touched the lives of hundreds of students. Peggy enjoyed many hobbies, including basket weaving, cross stitching and sewing – and never hesitated to share her works with her entire extended family. She was a devout member of First United Methodist Church of DeRidder for almost 40 years. Throughout her life, Peggy’s real focus was helping those she cared for.  Her kindness and generosity of spirit were examples to all and she will be sorely missed.  Her memory will be cherished by family and friends too numerous to count.

Peggy is mourned by daughter Phyllis Smith and son-in-law Matthew Root of Temecula, CA; daughter Kimberly Smith and son-in-law Stanley McDonald, Jr. of Shreveport, LA; grandchildren Andrew and Caroline Root of Temecula, CA, and Samuel, Sarah and Ian McDonald of Shreveport, LA; sister Betty Heurtevant of Sulphur, LA; brother Ronnie Deason of Hackberry, LA; sister-in-law Judy Deason of DeRidder, LA; and sister-in-law Diane Deason of Sulphur, LA. She is preceded in death by parents Marcus Deason and Estelle (Maddox) Deason Perry; husband Jackie L. Smith; infant son, Jack Walt; and brothers Roger Deason and Bobby Deason.

Visitation will be held Saturday, March 25, 2017 from 9:00am until 10:45am at First United Methodist Church of DeRidder, with the funeral service at 11:00am at First United Methodist Church of DeRidder.  Interment will follow at Blue Branch Cemetery in Pitkin. Rev. Lamar C. Oliver of First United Methodist Church of DeRidder will officiate.