David Smiddy

Honorable David Franklin Smiddy, Sr., Kentucky Colonel

David Franklin Smiddy, Sr. 78 of Harlan KY, formerly of Cawood passed away Saturday June 24, 2023, peacefully in his sleep with his family by his side. Mr. Smiddy was born June 28, 1944, in Cawood, KY.

He is preceded in death by his father William David Smiddy and mother Addie Dean Smiddy, his father-in-law Robert Fulston Cloud, and mother-in-law Sarah Emeline Thacker Cloud, two brothers James Lewis Smiddy, and Virgil Paris Smiddy, and three sisters Opal Irene Smiddy, Wilma Delores Smiddy Helton, and Beulah Evelyn Smiddy. Sister-in-law, Patsy Doan, Brother-in-law, Robert Kenneth Cloud, niece/great niece Victoria Batten, and nephews, Steven Woodard, and Johnny Ray Cloud.

Mr. Smiddy is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Brenda Cloud Smiddy, Harlan, KY. Two sons, David Franklin Smiddy Jr. (Nicky) Evarts, KY, and Christopher Reid Smiddy, Harlan, KY. Three sisters, Cassie Jemima Wolfhope, New Paris, PA, Jodie Smiddy Batten (Brent) Pontiac, MI, and Shirley Howard, Port Charlotte, FL. Two grandsons, Cameron Seth Smiddy (Mackenzie), Harlan, KY, and Kolby Bailey, Evarts, KY. One granddaughter, Kayline Elizabeth Bailey, Evarts, KY. Two great grandchildren, Cassidy Burkhart, Evarts, KY, and Ashton Grace Smiddy, Harlan, KY. Brother-in-law, Gary Cloud, Cawood, KY. Sister-in-laws, Debbie Woodard, Browning Acres, Peggy Greene (Joe), Grays knob, KY, Judy Hensley (David), New Tazwell, TN. Mr. Smiddy thought of and loved his brothers and sisters-in-laws as his own. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. Special nieces, Maria Regina Poraczky, and Jodie Smiddy Batten. Special Friends, Jason Hyman Farmer (who he thought of like a son), Darrell Smith, Greg Skidmore, Jim Wilson, and Reverend Jim Emery.

The family of Mr. Smiddy would like to thank the staff and many friends David made during his stay at the James H. Quillen Veterans Mountain Home Medical Center and Community Living Center of Johnson City, TN. David loved driving his school bus and working for the Harlan County Board of Education and made many friends during his time there. The family of Mr. Smiddy would like to thank all his friends (too many to name) at the board of education and transportation department.

David married the love of his life, Brenda Cloud on June 04, 1963. They met in the coal mining community of Mary Helen. Mr. Smiddy asked his friend if he could hitch a ride on his work vehicle, the Jolly Roger Ice Cream truck. Brenda was buying her younger sister Debbie a cone at the time; he asked her for a date and the rest is history. David and Brenda would move to the cities of Chicago, Detroit, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, Cadiz, Ohio, and Bedford, Pennsylvania for work. Mr. Smiddy was trained and worked construction for many years then attained jobs with General Motors, and Ford before deciding to return home. David always said, “There is nothing better than coming home, especially to these mountains and to his mother, Addie.” After his return he worked in many of the coal mines in Harlan for the next 20+ years before retiring. However, David didn’t know what the word retirement meant and in 2008 began another career with the Harlan County Board of Education as a school/football bus driver before finally retiring at the age of 75 in 2019. Mr. Smiddy enjoyed driving and was proud of his 2013 Dodge Charger and always said with a wide grin to his son Chris, “look how mean it looks”. He loved to work around his yard in Teetersville, especially mowing his grass and planting tomato/garlic plants. Mr. Smiddy was also an avid tv watcher and enjoyed his 75-inch flat screen. David was a United States veteran who served during the Cuban Missile crisis and in December 2022 was awarded the highest honor for a Kentuckian by Governor Andy Beshear, the rank of Kentucky Colonel. Mr. Smiddy was also a proud member of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA).

Visitation for Mr. Smiddy will begin at 4PM on Friday, June 30, 2023 in the Chapel of Mount Pleasant Funeral Home until the Funeral Hour of 7PM with Sean Daniels and Bryan Greene officiating. Harlan County Honor Guard will be performing Military Rites.

Mount Pleasant Funeral Home is Honored to serve the family of Mr. David Smiddy Sr..