Wilma Jean (Daugherty) Smith

Wilma Jean (Daugherty) Smith of Kingston, TN passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Jamestowne Assisted Living. She was born on November 5, 1946, in Oliver Springs, TN. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Paul Avery Smith, son Paul Gregory Smith, her beloved dog Lucy, her parents, several siblings, in-laws, and cherished friends. She is survived by her daughter Deanna Smith (Decatur, GA), sisters Elizabeth Rayder (Oliver Springs, TN) and Wanda Hutton (Harriman, TN), brother Jerry Daugherty (wife Leta, Cedar Hill, TX), brothers-in-law Billy Smith (wife Deborah, Kingston, TN), Jerry Kelly (wife Connie, Kingston, TN), sisters-in-law Jackie Morton (husband Chip, Braselton, GA), Trudy Smith (Kingston, TN), and several nieces and nephews.

She is also survived by “chosen family” Eve and Chuck Schenz, their children Nicole Bragg (husband Brian) and Matt Schenz (wife Lisa), and grandchildren, all of Smiths Station, AL; and Jenna and Dan Harp (Harriman, TN), whom she often said she “couldn’t love them more if they were my own children.”

While her husband’s military career took the family from Fort Campbell, KY to Frankfort, Germany, most of their life was spent living in Fort Benning and Columbus, GA, where they raised their two children. She worked for several years as the operations manager for Sun Ray Cleaners.

She and her husband retired in 2008 to the Holiday Shores neighborhood of Harriman, TN, where they resided until his death in 2021 and her move to Jamestowne in 2023.

Wilma loved birdwatching (and yelling at the squirrels who tried to get into the feeders), reading, playing mahjong, and tending to an ever-growing collection of houseplants. She had a great sense of humor, a terrible sense of direction, and she could never resist a “Criminal Minds” or “NCIS” marathon.

At her request, there will be no funeral. A private cremation was handled by Evans Mortuary. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in honor of her husband, or to a local animal shelter in honor of her rescue dog, Lucy. Evans Mortuary of Rockwood, Tennessee is honored to serve the family of Wilma Jean (Daughtery) Smith.