Faye Evelyn Baker Smith, 86, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018, at her home in Batesville, Miss.

Funeral services for Mrs. Smith will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home in Batesville with visitation beginning at 11 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at North Oxford Baptist Cemetery in Oxford. Dr. Tommy Snyder will officiate.

Faye was born May 13, 1931, in Abbeville, Miss., to the late John Pascal Baker and Evie Ida Hale Baker. Faye was a graduate of the University of Mississippi. She was a homemaker during her lifetime and treasured taking care of her family. She was an active member of First Baptist Church in Batesville since 1977. She was a member of the James Gilliam Chapter MSS DAR, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 4968 and the USAF Officers Wives Club. During her spare time, Faye enjoyed flower gardening and painting.

As the wife of an Air Force officer, Faye lived in many places, including El Paso, Texas, the Panama Canal Zone, Omaha, Ne., Hamilton ASB, in California., Richard-Gebaur ASB in Missouri., and three tours at the Kessler ASB in Biloxi, Miss. After her husband Billy’s retirement from the U.S. Air Force, they made their home in Batesville for 40 years.

The family she leaves behind includes her loving husband of 62 years; William G. “Billy”  Smith of Batesville, her daughters; Cathy S. Craven (John) of Brandon, Miss., and Rebecca S. Myhand (Dax) of Gilbertsville, Ky. Four grandchildren, Capt. Jack Craven, U.S. Air Force stationed in Belgium, Emily Craven of Memphis, Tenn., and Blake and Olivia Myhand of Gilbertsville, and one great-grandchild on the way.

In addition to her parents, Faye is preceded in death by half-sister Beatrice South, one sister; Esther Baker Mize, and two brothers; J.P. Baker and Victor Lamar Baker.

Anyone wishing to send a memorial contribution may forward those to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905.