Craig Smith Sr.

Craig Russell Smith, Sr., a longtime resident of Walker, LA, died Sunday, January 18, 2026. He was born on Saturday, September 12, 1959, in Lansing, MI. The son of Russell Philip Smith (Dinsmore, Saskatchewan, Canada) and Merrie Carolyn Rankin Rohm (Bad Axe, MI), he inherited a strong work ethic, a great taste for entertainment, and his overwhelming love for family.

Craig played the snare in a marching band when he was young; and he obviously carried that love of the drums into his taste of music ranging from Led Zeppelin to Grand Funk Railroad to AC/DC and Megadeath . . . Marshall Tucker Band . . . any classic rock from his era was what he considered the best music.

However, his first love would have certainly been baseball; as he would earn his letterman playing for the St. Joe High School Bears. Craig certainly shared this bond with his oldest son. In the mid 90’s, Craig would coach his oldest son’s little league baseball team(s) as part of the Walker Youth Sports Association. He also had the privilege of coaching several of the league’s All-Star teams; and was a respected coach until his son moved on in high school. Even in his later years, Craig and C.J. would “train” in the batting cages at the local D-BAT facility. Wednesday would become the new Sunday as his son would enjoy following in his father’s footsteps as a brand-new father of his own.

When his boys were younger, he enjoyed fishing w/his sons and Herb Wetkowski in places like the Morganza Spillway, Atchafalaya Basin, and the brackish waters between Hammond and New Orleans. His love for entertainment would lead to being the first on his block with XM Radio and DirecTV. Every Sunday, Craig’s place was the hangout spot where he would enjoy watching his beloved Detroit and New Orleans sports teams in the company of his wife and friends, Dave and Trudy Bertrand, Jude Crosby, Henson Justis, and Ray Barber. Over the years, he would coin the phrase, “If you can’t remember, don’t forget.” He would never forget a name and always looked forward to the joy of seeing a familiar face.

The Smith work ethic would help him lead to jobs like his first with the paper route, a busboy @ the Captain’s Table and an Assistant Parts Manager for the local Volkswagon dealership. He drove a delivery truck for the post office and even worked at a bank in the city he would grow up in St. Joseph, MI, where he’d live until his move down to Louisiana in 1980.

Craig’s move to Louisiana wasn’t one that would go exactly as planned. Originally tasked to transport his sister’s car to her in Florida; he would proceed to detour to Louisiana to visit some friends who moved down from Michigan the previous year. Carolyn’s car would break down, and their father traveled to have the vehicle repaired and ultimately drove the vehicle back to Michigan. Craig was now “stuck” to find a new life almost a thousand miles away from everything he’d previously known.

Finally, he would become a professional truck driver for Parts Plus, Inc. in Baton Rouge, LA. He would proceed to miss one day of work over the next forty years and retired as the only original truck driver from Parts Plus, Inc. with the eventual company of Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts. He was very proud of his profession and even knew the day he drove his millionth mile as a trucker. MojoCree as he referred to himself from time to time, would retire the day before his 62nd birthday in 2021.

Craig would be introduced to the mother of his five children, Kathy Ann Decker, in March of 1983 by a fellow coworker, Ricky Spell. Craig and Kathy were married Dec. 22, 1983, and would be until her untimely death in Nov, 2018...nearly 35 years of marriage.

Craig and Kathy are both survived by their children: Craig R. Smith, Jr. (married Erin Penny and have one daughter, Julianna Kate) Michelle Smith (married to Ryan Milligan; has two sons, Patrick, Jr. and Leyland, via her 2nd husband, Patrick Riggins) Derek Smith, Valerie Smith (one son, Orey, Jr. preceded in death by his father, Orey Spencer, Sr.) and Suzanne Weathers (married to Robert Weathers).

Craig is also survived by his mother, Merrie; his sister, Carolyn; his brother, Eric; his sister Angie and her fiancé, Ryan; his Uncle Mike; his Uncle Chet; his Aunt Shirley; his Aunt Maude; and many, many cousins including his beloved P-Ball.

Craig is proceeded in death by his father, Russ, his wife, Kathy; his Uncle Connie along with many more aunts and uncles.

In the end, Craig lived his own life...paved his own way...and was so very proud to be a Smith. He missed his father terribly, but often spoke very proudly of his mother, two sisters and brother. He is truly missed by anyone who knew his smile.