Birmingham, Alabama
SMITHERMAN, DR. R. ONEAL (AKA SMITTY), professor emeritus at Auburn University Department of Fisheries, lost his battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's) disease at a local hospital on April 14, 2011. ALS is a disease that robs a person of everything other than the love from family and friends. Smitty was...
Read MoreI always think fondly of Smitty and I smile. I wish I didn´t have to leave behind those azaleas at the Gay St house when we moved, but the new owners loved to know about them. It´s a wonderful legacy.
Susan Cook
April 14, 2022
To the Smitherman family: Please know that Smitty was a very important and inspiring man in my life. He was my chairman during my M.S. and PhD. degrees at Auburn and provided me with wonderful encouragement. As busy as he was, he always had time to chat with me, and we truely shared many interests including tilapia genetics and azalea breeding. I know that you are in pain during the mourning process, but with time and prayer, you will gently be lifted to a place where you will only have...
Leslie Behrends
May 18, 2011 | Florence, AL
Pat, Smitty was a great guy. I still have the wild azaleas he gave us many years ago, planted under the big oak tree, and they are always so beautiful. I am so glad to have this rememberance. You and Smitty were kind to me and my family and while we haven't kept in touch in recent years, I will think of him fondly. I am still at the same house on Gay St. with my husband Alan Cook. Please accept my sympathy and friendship to you at this difficult time.
Susan Cook (Jensen)
April 21, 2011 | Auburn, AL
Pat: My heart goes out to you and all your family during this sad time. What remarkable accomplishments Smitty achieved during his lifetime. I certainly will think of him when I admire the native azales throughout Mt Laurel. With Sympathy, Nancy Ladshaw
April 21, 2011
Pat,
I have just now heard about Smitty. I know one is never prepared for this. You and your family are in my prayers. I pray that you will have peace and God's comfort during this time. Come back to Mt. Laurel and let us love you through this. I will let Sandra know.
Love, Carol Scroggins
Carol Scroggins
April 20, 2011 | Birmingham, AL
Pat,
You and your daughters are in my heart and on my mind during this very sad and hard time in your lives.
Judy Westberry
April 20, 2011
Pat, Susan, and Shelley:
My heart goes out to you as I learned of the illness and death of Smitty. May God comfort you as only He can during this time. I remember him as a very jolly person, wanting people to feel good and laugh.
Virginia Taylor
April 20, 2011
