Louis Whitson Smith

Louis W. Smith, Man of Steel with a Heart of Gold, age 75, of Gulfport passed away peacefully at his home on December 11, 2018 after a brief illness. He was a lifelong resident of Harrison County. He was born in Gulfport to Allen Smith Sr. and Annie Pearl Mercer Smith on March 20, 1943. He attended school in Orange Grove and went directly into the work force at a young age. He worked as a heavy equipment operator, and later at Jitney Jungle. Louis began his welding career at Irby Brothers Steel as a welder / fitter/Crane Operator and inspector. Because of his experience at Irby Brothers, in 1967 he began his own welding company, Louis Smith Welding. Through hard work and dedication he grew his small business into a successful steel fabrication and welding entity. The growth of the company escalated when the casino industry began in our area in 1992. He has been a successful business man on the MS Gulf Coast over 50 years as owner of Louis Smith Construction, Inc. / Louis Smith Welding which is still operating today. He was Orange Grove/Lyman Chamber of Commerce 2009 Business of the Year. Working was always his main objective but his passion was to own and train race horses and remains so to this day. He enjoyed fishing, boating, cooking seafood for family and friends and cruising in his antique cars. He was a Jester, Shriner; Joppa Temple, and a Mason; Orange Grove Lodge. He was preceded in death by his parents Allen Smith Sr. & Annie Pearl Mercer Smith, three brothers Herbert Smith, James E. “Smitty” Smith, Alvin Smith, Sr. and his niece Vanessa Smith Ruiz. He was survived by his wife, Loretta “Tuti” Michel Smith, his daughter Karen E. Smith, his step-son Lawrence L. Hobbs, his grandson Jourdan Louis, his great grandson Carson Lane and his brothers Allen (Lora) Smith & Bobby Ray (Debbie) Smith. He was also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends that loved him very much. Louis was a kind, generous and fun loving man. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and others who lives he touched. Services will be held Saturday, December 15, 2018 at Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home on O’Neal Road, Gulfport. Visitation starts at 1:00pm with a service to follow at 2:30pm.