Obituary of Buddy Albert Smith

Buddy Albert Smith, age 81, died November 1, 2020 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was born on October 12, 1939, on Broken Mountain in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma. He was the son of Raymond L. Smith and Lena Phillips Wilburn. Buddy was preceded in death by his brother, Billy Ray Smith, his mother, Lena Phillips Wilburn and his father, Raymond L. Smith. Buddy was married to Vivian A. Heck on April 1, 1959 in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He made his life’s work bridge construction and for the last 15 years of employment, was Bridge Superintendent of Jensen Construction Company of Des Moines, Iowa, and built bridges in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. After a work- related accident, Buddy was unable to return to work and retired in 1995. Buddy and his wife, Vivian, made their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma since retirement but, have also lived in Mena, Arkansas as well as Sapulpa and Stigler, Oklahoma. Buddy has been an active member of Forty-First Street Christian Church in Tulsa. Buddy is survived by two sons and one daughter, Mark Earl Kent of Austin, Texas, Gary Mark Smith of Manhattan, Kansas and Kathryn Lynn Smith Tipsword Hockett of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Jennifer Ann Smith, Don Mark Kent, Kelli Kent and Kaci Kent; four sisters, Patsy Ann Smith Lamon of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Kathy Smith Hitchcock of Spavinaw, Oklahoma, Karen Smith Turner of Cordell, Oklahoma, and Suzanne Smith Jones of Jenks, Oklahoma; and several nieces and nephews. Burial is in Brooken Cemetery, Haskell County, Oklahoma. www.greenhillok.com