NORVELLE LEIGH SMITH
March 4, 1937-October 17, 2024
Norvelle Leigh Smith (Gus) passed away peacefully at his home on October 17th , 2024.
Gus was born March 4, 1937 in Mobile, Alabama to Donald Henry Smith and Genevieve Leigh Smith. He had a twin sister, Jennie Smith Sheldon (Paul), and has a brother, Donnie Smith (Mickey). Gus is survived by his loving wife, Teresa McLean Smith, children Leigh Smith (Veronique) of Aix en Provence, France, daughter Elliott Turner (Alex) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina and daughter Mollie Buffkin (Russell)of Mobile; grandchildren Pauline, Amelie and Victoria Smith, Campbell, McLean and Frances Turner, Annie, Russell Jr, and Warren Buffkin, brother-in-law Kenny McLean (Suzy), sister-in-law Susan McGowin (Mason) and many loved nieces, nephews and Godchildren .
Gus’ loves included hunting, fishing, Old Texas Hunt Club, Sehoy Plantation birthday memories, Steelwood quail hunting and fishing in the lake for bass, pheasant shooting with great friends in England, dove hunting, fly fishing and scuba diving with family and friends . He was an avid golfer in his younger days with 5 holes-in-one. During the Mobile Country Club Labor Day tournament, one particular hole awarded a Mercedes for a hole-in-one. Gus decided to do it “his way” with a hole-in-one on the wrong hole, so they honored him with a bicycle. Only Gus!
Gus was a renowned joke teller with the same joke repeated from coast to coast…. even at 3 AM friends would call to hear the famous rendition “Something About Archibald.” He was such a lover of Mardi Gras, serving as king in 1964 and his favorite day of the year was the former Kings Luncheon at Ruth’s Chris on the Friday of Mardi Gras. There again he was forced to tell that same joke “Something About Archibald”!
Gus and Teresa (Tessie) had their first date to a Joan Baez concert at Spring Hill College, where they later married on January 30 th , 1965. They were happily married for nearly 60 years and had three wonderful children Leigh, Elliott and Mollie. Gus’ sense of humor was prominent but he was also deeply spiritual, never missing a Sunday at the Catholic church. He was a huge lover of the arts and was a yearly subscriber of The Mobile Symphony and Mobile Opera. He even traveled with groups of friends to New York following his passion for music.
Gus served as Vice President and Controller for Smith’s Bakery, a family-owned company for over 100 years serving the East coast. His bakery comment was “I didn’t make much money, but I sure made a lot of dough.” He loved his years with the family business, retiring in 1998.
Gus was born and reared in Mobile, attending St. Catherines, followed by McGill Institute, and Auburn University, studying at The School of Business as a Phi Delta Theta (War Eagle). He was most proud of his children and grandchildren promoting family trips, encouraging them to live life to the fullest spiritually, mentally and physically. He encouraged them to see the world, experience different cultures, and first and foremost “go to church.”
Gus served his community in countless ways as both a board member and committee member for the following: Industrial Development (city of Mobile), President of America’s Junior Miss, Mobile Touchdown Club, Salvation Army Board, Mobile area of Boy Scouts of America, Mobile Chamber of Commerce, WHIL Radio, SouthTrust Bank of Mobile, Springhill College, Catholic Charities, United Way, St. Paul’s Episcopal School Board of Trustees, and the Mobile Opera.
After retirement, Gus and Teresa moved to Point Clear in 2005 where they have enjoyed their life on Mobile Bay. Gus loved working out with his mentor and trainer, Rick, trying to stay “upright.” His favorite days were having Lakewood Monday lunches with the “young” guys talking politics, discussing books, telling jokes, comparing ailments and just enjoying great companionship. As Gus would say “LIFE IS GOOD!”
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make donations in Gus’ memory to Saint Paul’s Episcopal School Foundation (stpaulsmobile.net) or Catholic Charities USA (catholiccharitiesusa.org) or NEST of Mobile (nestofmobile.org) or a charity of your choosing.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday, October 22nd , 2024 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 370 S. Section, Fairhope, Alabama.
ARRANGEMENTS BY
WOLFE-BAYVIEW
FUNERAL HOMES
& CREMATORY, INC.
FAIRHOPE, AL
www.wolfefuneralhomes.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Norvelle Leigh "Gus" Smith, please visit our flower store.St. Lawrence Catholic Church
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