Steve Smith

Robert Stephen “Steve” Smith, age 68 of Whitlock, TN, passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, surrounded by his family at home.

Steve was born in Greeneville, TN, on May 26, 1958. He is the son of the late Robert L. Smith, and the late Barbara Nease Smith.

Steve moved to Paris, TN with his family in 1967 and was an active member of Henry County 4-H and FFA. He graduated from UT Knoxville in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with honors. He was a county extension agent in Athens, TN from 1980-1981 where he made many life-long friends. He moved back to Paris in 1982 to farm full-time with his dad until 1988 when he bought property on Darby Lane and Future-Visions Registered Holsteins was born. In his almost 40 years of milking registered Holsteins, he had over 50 cows score excellent, multiple cows milk over 30,000 pounds of milk and was proud to have a completely closed herd where no outside animals were bought. He was proud to exhibit at local and state shows until he had dispersed in 2012. He was a fourth-generation dairy farmer and was proud to pass on his farming genetics to his children and grandchildren.

He was an avid fisherman in his “retirement” and loved going out on the lake with his friends to catch fish.

Most importantly, he was saved and loved the Lord. He was a longtime Sunday School teacher and deacon. In the last 8 years, he became the proud Papa to Mccoy, Lila, Ada, and Walker, and cherished the time spent with them. He was also proud to farm together with his son, Tyler, and his daughter-in-law, Jessi.

Family left to cherish his memory: children, Tyler (Jessi) Smith of Whitlock, TN, and Kelsey (Jeremy) Kinslow of Smiths Grove, KY; Lois Smith of Cottage Grove, TN; his beloved companion, Darlene Miller of Benton, KY; three sisters, Debbie Easterday of Brentwood, TN, Mitzi Parrish of Cottage Grove, TN, and Marty (John) Reese of Petersburg, TN; one brother, John (Sherry) Smith of Puryear, TN; four grandchildren, Mccoy Wayne Kinslow, Lila Grace Smith, Ada Isabelle Smith, and Walker Zane Kinslow; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Cecil Gray and Fannie Nease; paternal grandparents, Lofton and Alice Smith; and two brothers-in-law, Steve Parrish, and Mark Smith.

Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap Street, Paris, TN, 38242, is handling the arrangements. Visitation will be held at Ridgeway Funeral Home on Sunday, June 28, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The funeral service will begin at 4:00 p.m., officiated by Glynn Orr.

Burial will follow at Walker Cemetery with Joel Sherlin, Brad Bray, Greg Story, Brian Solowey, Jim Smith, and Chris Beloate serving as pallbearers.

The family request, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105.