Laurie Smith Issler Horton

Laurie was born May 19,1954 in Milan, Tennessee to Troy Edward Smith and Virginia Dare Bennett Smith. She was the oldest of three children.

She is survived by her mother and her son Philip F. Issler, Jr (Lisa), and “bonus” children Bart Wilbur Horton (Neka) and Amy Horton Bunton (Michael). Her children blessed her with eight grandchildren and one great granddaughter. She was affectionally known as “Nana” and was a proud grandmother. Laurie is survived by two brothers, Troy Edward (Eddie) Smith, Jr. (Mary) of Warner Robbins, GA, and Patrick Keith Smith (Anita) of Huntington, TN.

Laurie attended Whitehaven High School in Memphis, TN. She started her career with Underwriters Adjusting Company in Memphis and later moved to General Adjustment Bureau (GAB).

She is preceded in death by her father, Troy Smith in 2015 and her first husband, Philip F. Issler (1994). She and Philip enjoyed vacationing together and taking cruises in the later years of his life.

Laurie is also preceded by her second husband, David W. Horton in 2021 whom she married in 1995.

When Laurie married David, she joined him in Horton & Associates, and they were very rarely apart. She obtained her real estate appraisers license and together they organized many of the West Tennessee Claims Association activities. They were also very committed to Downtown Jackson Development, including the activation and restoration of multiple properties.

Laurie and David enjoyed working together on the farm and also raising Brangus Cattle which they sold throughout the southeast. She enjoyed nurturing a fond collection of friends who lived near the farm, such as Jeff Gantt and Scott Gantt.

Laurie good-heartedly clipped pasture, checked cows and entertained countless guests at their beautiful farm. You knew it was going to be a good day if it started by drinking coffee with Laurie on the porch, while enjoying the beauty of nature. Laurie loved to ride her grandchildren on the tractor and Kubota, building many wonderful memories as she would often let them drive over the farm.

She was a devoted lifelong caregiver for her family, lovingly caring for both husbands and her father throughout extended illnesses, as well as her mother. Laurie was a Hospice Volunteer and served her community in many church and professional activities.

Laurie loved her family and friends, greeting everyone with a warm smile and kindness. She had a gift for bringing people together and enjoyed her friend groups having weekly dinners or game nights. She was especially fond of her Sunday School Class and The Rack Pack, a support group for connecting women going through breast cancer that only another patient or survivor would understand.

There are too many friends to acknowledge each one by name; but the family would like to extend deep gratitude for her special friends Linda Harden and Carolyn Yarbrough who have provided comfort and care. They have been the truest definitions of compassionate friends.

Laurie wanted to thank the nurses and caregivers of Kirkland Cancer Center for their loving kindness during her treatments. Laurie’s last and most unselfish act was to donate her body for medical education and research.

A memorial service will be held at New Hopewell Church, 500 West Church Avenue, Medina, TN on Friday, July 26. The visitation with the family will be 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, with the service immediately following.

Memorials may be directed to New Hopewell Church, 500 West Church Avenue, Medina, TN 38355, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929 or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GeorgeASmithandSons.com for the Horton family.