Eugene R. SMITH III

SMITH, Eugene R. III,

75, left this life May 25, 2010, in Destin, Fla.,

sur-rounded by his loving family. He was born October 23, 1934, in Tampa, to Eugene Russell Smith II and Elizabeth Lorraine Smith. Gene was a longtime resident of Destin, Fla. Gene grew up in Andalusia, Ala., where he met the love of his life, JoAnne Pless, whom he later married.

Gene is survived by his son, Sloan Eugene Smith; his daughter-in-law, Marcelle Smith; his two grand-children, Savannah and Haden Smith; his brother, Ernest Smith and wife, Joy Smith, nephew, Michael Gene Smith; and his two sisters, Gail Smith and Carol Lally. Gene attended Marion Military Institute in Marion, Ala., and received his bachelor' s degree in Architecture from Auburn University. Gene served as a 1st Lieutenant with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as an executive officer. Gene was an experienced designer and city planner, who started his practice in 1960 in Tampa. Gene had offices in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and Destin, Fla. Among Gene' s many accomplishments were being past president of the student chapter of The American Institute of Architects at Auburn University, where he was named to the National Architectural Honorary Society SCARAB; past president of the Tampa Bay Auburn Alumni Club; and a corporate member of the American Institute of Architects. Gene received several Aurora Awards in outstanding residential design, and was selected by the National Association of Home Builders to receive the Builder' s Choice Grand Award for St. Andrews Common, located in Palmetto Dunes Resort, Hilton Head Island, S.C., and Hidden Dunes Beach Cottages in Destin, Fla.

You may go online to offer condolences to the family and sign the guestbook at

www.heritagegardens

funeralhome.com. Memorial services to celebrate the life of Eugene R. Smith III will be announced at a future date.

Heritage Gardens Funeral Home of Niceville is entrusted with the arrangements.