COYT SMITH 1961 - 1986 AIRCRAFT MECHANIC STL FSM LIT DEN Jake I don't know if you saw the obit in Sundays Democrat-Gazette, but Coyt Smith, a mechanic in LIT and FSM passed away this past weekend in Benton,AR. After Frontier according to the paper he had worked for Fed Ex and had retired from there. -Jim Hicks (1/2/02) No, I didn't see it Jim. Could you send me a copy of it. The NW Ark edition of the Demozette doesn't carry the same obits as LIT. I knew Coyt when I worked in STL 1968-70. He was there then. -Jake Lamkins (1/4/02) Found at the Democrat-Gazette website: BENTON -- Coyt Smith, Jr., 65, of Benton, passed away Dec. 28, 2001. He was a wonderful husband and father. Mr. Smith left behind a wife of 37 years, Kathryn; and four children, Brad and Jennifer Smith and their two children, Katie and Bradley of Olive Branch, Miss.; Bryan Smith of Olathe, Kan.; Becky Smith and Bobby Smith, both of Benton. He loved his family and it showed in everything he did. Also left behind are two brothers, Bill Smith of Springdale and Bob Smith of Benton; many other dear family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Coyt Smith, Sr. and Fannie Cash Smith; and a sister, Marie Brumbelow. Mr. Smith graduated from Harmony Grove and entered the Air Force where he learned to work on airplanes. He was an airplane mechanic and loved everything about flying. He spent most of his career with Frontier Airlines until retiring with Federal Express. When he retired he returned home to his "farm" off Nickelbill Road, where he loved to tinker in the barn and give his grandkids motorcycle and tractor rides. There are not enough words to explain the love his family has for him. He is their hero in the true sense of the word and they love him with all their hearts. They know he is with the Lord, walking through the fields with his beagle Trooper and watching them with smiles waiting on them to see him again. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday at the Ashby Funeral Home Chapel with burial at New Rosemont Cemetery. The minister will be Rev. Kim Hammer. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Ashby's. -Jake Lamkins Posted at the FL Online Club 1/4/02: Just got word about Coyt. He was at STL when I was there 1968-70. He also worked at LIT but I'm not sure where else. Real nice guy. Thanks to Jim Hicks (LITCN,LITAA) for alerting me to Coyt's death. Found at the Democrat-Gazette website: BENTON -- Coyt Smith, Jr., 65, of Benton, passed away Dec. 28, 2001. He was a wonderful husband and father. Mr. Smith left behind a wife of 37 years, Kathryn; and four children, Brad and Jennifer Smith and their two children, Katie and Bradley of Olive Branch, Miss.; Bryan Smith of Olathe, Kan.; Becky Smith and Bobby Smith, both of Benton. He loved his family and it showed in everything he did. Also left behind are two brothers, Bill Smith of Springdale and Bob Smith of Benton; many other dear family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Coyt Smith, Sr. and Fannie Cash Smith; and a sister, Marie Brumbelow. Mr. Smith graduated from Harmony Grove and entered the Air Force where he learned to work on airplanes. He was an airplane mechanic and loved everything about flying. He spent most of his career with Frontier Airlines until retiring with Federal Express. When he retired he returned home to his "farm" off Nickelbill Road, where he loved to tinker in the barn and give his grandkids motorcycle and tractor rides. There are not enough words to explain the love his family has for him. He is their hero in the true sense of the word and they love him with all their hearts. They know he is with the Lord, walking through the fields with his beagle Trooper and watching them with smiles waiting on them to see him again. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday at the Ashby Funeral Home Chapel with burial at New Rosemont Cemetery. The minister will be Rev. Kim Hammer. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Ashby's. -Jake Lamkins I'm sure sorry to hear of Coyt's passing. I was always amazed at the speed and efficiency which he went about his work. I never remember him complaining about anything, no matter how uncomfortable the weather was or how tight the work schedule was. He always greeted us with a smile and a friendly word. He was one fine, fine fellow and he will be missed by many. -Jack "Frosty" Frost (1/4/02) Hello Jake I e-mailed you the obit section of the Sunday paper. Coyt's obit is listed under Benton, his home town -Jim Hicks (1/4/02) Thanks very much, Jim. Do you recall what years Coyt worked in LIT? -Jake Lamkins (1/5/02) Didn't Coyt Smith start out at FSM or was he there until FAL pulled out of there? I sure liked the guy. Maybe if he hadn't always been going at full speed he'd have been around a lot longer. -Jack "Frosty" Frost (1/6/02) I'm not sure where he started. He was in STL when I was there 1968-70. We talked about getting back to Arkansas a lot. I lost touch with him when I went to JAC in 1970. I'm pretty sure he was in FSM & LIT both at one time or another. Probably DEN too - everybody had to put some time in there it seems. -Jake Lamkins (1/6/02) File sent to Ken Schultz. Ken, do you have any further info on Coyt? -Jake Lamkins (1/7/02) Jake, I didn't know if you knew about Coyt passing away. (Obituary enclosed) He was a wonderful person and a good friend. He was a truly sweet man, tho he was all man. We all loved him. -Jack Chambers (1/10/02) My name is Bobby Smith, son of Coyt Smith. My father worked for Frontier for many years as a mechanic in St. Louis, Ft. Smith, and Denver. He passed away on the 28th of December 2001. I would like to join your club to recieve more information about the company my dad loved so much. Please send your reply to hsuflyboy@hotmail.com, my home address is 101 Nickle Bill Road; Benton, AR 72015. Thank You! Bobby Smith P.S. I talked to Tony Worden of Ft.Smith and he said there was an article about my dad in the Frontier newsletter. If at all possible I would like to have some copies of that for my family. Thanks. -Bobby Smith (2/14/02) Hi Bobby, Good hearing from you. A copy of the newsletter is in the mail to you. Subscriptions are $10 per year. There are 5 back issues available at $2.50 each. I'll send you an invite to the Frontier online club. It's free at yahoo.com There's also a website index indicated below. Your dad is listed in the maintenance section. Send me a photo and I will build him a page. Let me know if there is anything else you or the family would like to include. You can see what it would look like by clicking on one of the thumbnailed names. -Jake Lamkins P.S. I worked with your dad in St. Louis and he was a fine person. I liked him very much. (2/14/02) Email to Bobby, Coyt's son: I've got your dad's page set up but we still need a photo. Can you email me one? If not, maybe you could mail me one that I could return after I scan it. His webpage is at http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Coyt_Smith.html -Jake Lamkins (9/17/02) I will try and get a pic sent to you this week. It may be a few days though because I have been busy with classes and flight instructing. Thanks for the work you've done on the page, it looks great! -Bobby Smith (9/17/02) Here is a pic. If it doesn't work for some reason, let me know. This is a pic of my dad,my two brothers, and me. Brad might send you some pics of my dad that he took at work. They worked together at Fed Ex before my dad retired. Pic - Bobby, Coyt, Bryan, Brad -Bobby Smith (9/20/02) Thanks, Bobby. I've updated your dad's webpage and placed the photos there. -Jake Lamkins (9/21/02) Sorry to hear about Coyt Smith. He will be missed by all. -Fred Perry (3/6/03) During the fuel crisis of the mid 70's, A FSM mechanic, Coyt Smith, went to visit his family in Benton, Arkansas. Coyt's brother had an old junker car, that had developed a small leak in the gas tank. So he left that tank there and put one on the floor in the back seat and ran the fuel lines to it. On Saturday night. (remember this was during the fuel crisis and fuel shortages.) Coyt's brother said. "Watch this" he pulled into a service station where the attendant asked, "need some gas 7" Coyt's brother said. "no, I just need 5 gallons of water." The attendant said. "where are you going to put it ?" Coyt's brother said "in there, pointing to the original gas tank." The attendant watched as they poured the 5 gallons of water into the old tank, And then Coyt's brother made sure the attendant saw him reach into his shirt pocket and pull out 2 little white pills, (aspirin tablets) and dropped them into the tank, shook the car a little, got in and drove off. Coyt's brother said" I wonder what kind of stories are going around town tonight." -Tony Worden (2/6/10) C SMITH JR Aircraft mechanic seniority of 11/14/61 on the 11/1/76 FL/IAM seniority list. -Jake Lamkins (8/26/10) STL FSM LIT DEN aircraft mechanic Coyt Smith's memorial webpage has been updated. http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Coyt_Smith.html Four items added. Post your remembrances of Coyt. -Jake Lamkins (9/7/12) I think Coyt started in LIT. I went from FYV to LIT in early 1963. I am pretty sure he was there then. He, Fred Perry, A.V.Smith, Willis Cook were the mechanics there when I got there. He was a great friend and person. When Frontier was closing LIT and I was going from LIT to DEN, Coyt was working there. I called him and told him that we, family, were comming to DEN to look around, and ask if he could meet us and help. He did and insisted we use one of his cars. -Buddy Griffin (9/8/12)