Guy Wilbur Smith

Guy Wilbur Smith passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 30, 2023. He was 95 (just 2 weeks short of his 96th birthday). He was born in Alexandria, Louisiana & grew up in West Monroe, Louisiana, the son of the late John Foster Smith and Vera Smith. He was raised by his maternal grandmother Nancy Neyland, better known as ‘Mamaw.’

He attended high school in West Monroe, Louisiana and graduated in 1945. He was also a United States Navy Veteran and served during WWII, stationed in Japan.

He graduated from Louisiana State University in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology & Louisiana State University Law School with a Juris Doctorate in 1955. He was a partner with Deutsch Kerrigan for many years and in 1979 was a founding partner of Simone, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn. Guy practiced law for 67 years, retiring at age 90, specializing in real estate, oil & gas, financial transaction, employment/labor, family, sports & general practice. He was a member of the New Orleans, Louisiana State & American Bar Associations & a member of several professional organizations.

Guy is survived by wife Ann Marie Gandolfo Smith of New Orleans, Louisiana, daughter Nancy Delap Smith of New Orleans, LA & son John Foster Smith II (Amy) of Milton, Georgia. Guy will be missed by his 3 grandchildren - Parker, Taylor and Lindsey & great-grandson Carson. He is also survived by his sister Gwyndolyn (Sue) Brawley (Don) of Lufkin, Texas, niece Cindy Green & stepbrother Mike Coston.

His in-laws were the late Fernand & Margaret Maloney Gandolfo, late sister-in-law Margaret Gandolfo Farris & late brother-in-law Charles Farris, nephews Charlie Farris (Jane) & grandniece Frannie Franks (Michael) & great-grandnephew Farris & great-grandniece Jane & grandnephew Buddy Farris, Bradley Farris (Eileen) & grandnieces Charlotte & Nina Farris, Woody Farris (Merry Page) & grandniece Merry Alston, Waddy Farris (Monica) & grandniece Kate , Ham Farris (Teresa) & niece Meg Farris Adams (Mike) surviving sister-in-law Manon Gandolfo McKinnon, nephew Will McKinnon (Tree) & grandnephews Billy, Danny, Tommy, Jimmy & grandniece Lilly, niece Clerc Hunter (Bill) and grandnephew Charlie and late brother-in-law Mike Dial, late sister-in-law Sheila Maloney Dial, niece Allison Carrow (Craig), grandnephews Cole, Cooper & Will & niece Sara Dial.

Whether you called him Guy, Dadoo, GW, Wilbur, Uncle Guy, Beloved Uncle Guy, Mr. Guy, Ja’Guy, blue-eyes, thread man, walkin’ eagle or even old fool, we can all agree he will be remembered by his clever wit, laugh, sense of humor (sometimes inappropriate), his brightly colored shirts, ties, socks & shoes, music, movies & his love of food & drink. He loved to attend festivals, concerts, Wimbledon & traveled the world for The Olympics & just about any kind of sporting event. His ever-faithful love of his alma mater the LSU Tigers, with a special affinity for the LSU Football & Basketball programs was what really made him tick. He was as committed to the team as the players & coaches! He also loved the New Orleans Jazz & his beloved New Orleans Saints – he may have been the oldest season ticket holder EVER!

To all of us closest to him, we will forever remember his ‘Dadoo-isms’– any word (usually a verb – with an ‘o’ thrown onto the end), and mostly made up to win a game of Scrabble or purely for a laugh or family entertainment! And, those were contagious, just like the nicknames he gave us all, Bum-O, Little Ox, Boy, Chit, Parks, Heavy, Little Angel... He loved all kinds of music, whether listening on his reel-to-reel, 8 tracks, cassettes, CD ‘s, the 2500 songs on his iPod or ‘live performances’ at the Stone Groove, he was always knee-slapping & singing along. Likewise, his love for movies led to an amazing collection of bootleg Beta-recordings, VHS & DVDs, which he spent countless hours creating. Instead of Blockbuster, you could just head to 4160 to pick out a movie. And his love of the written word – newspapers, magazines, crossword puzzles, books, he never stopped enjoying journalism at its finest & had his own incredible library of interesting reads.

His love of food & drink kept him on the pulse of the local restaurant ‘scene’ & they knew him by name at places like Buds Broiler, C & A Seafood, Crescent City Brewhouse, Brennan’s, Ralph’s on the Park & Antoine’s. And of course, for several years, they knew him at his own place sipping a ‘Pink Squirrel’ at Isadora Restaurant in the Energy Centre. Or maybe you were lucky enough to be ‘invited’ to Vespers on Thursdays.

He was, well, let’s see, such a colorful man. Guy W. Smith, the Icon, who will be remembered for his selfless generosity - to family, friends & strangers. His work was complete on earth, he earned his wings & he has most definitely been met by a crowd of his own Heavenly fans at the Pearly Gates! We love you, thank you, miss you & can’t wait to see you again. Fly high Guy.

The family wishes to thank all the caregivers & nurses at SummerHouse Vista Shores Assisted Living Facility & Lakeside Hospice Care who provided care and support during this difficult time.

A visitation for Guy will be held Friday, February 3, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by a Words of Remembrance service at 11:00 AM at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70124.