Evelyn Knapp Smith

Evelyn Knapp Smith, 83, passed away on Thursday, December 25, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.

Evelyn was born on the 1st of December, 1942, in Shaw, Louisiana, and lived a life marked by compassion, dedication, and deep love for her family. She resided in Prairieville, Louisiana.

Evelyn was a devoted Registered Nurse and spent her career serving others at Earl K. Long Medical Center, the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging, and Woman’s Hospital. Her work reflected her nurturing spirit and lifelong commitment to helping those in need.

She was married to her beloved husband, Charles W. Smith, for 52 years. Together they built a family rooted in love, faith, and tradition. Evelyn was a proud and devoted mother of her two children and a cherished grandmother, affectionately known as “Nan,” whose warmth and kindness left a lasting impression on all who knew her.

Evelyn’s greatest joys were her faith and her family. A member of Riverside Baptist Church, she treasured Sundays spent cooking for those she loved after church. She found peace in her garden, British Television, and companionship in her sweet Miniature Schnauzer, Maggie Mae, and her deepest happiness in her children and grandchildren, who were the heart of her life. Known lovingly as “Nan,” her home was always filled with love, comfort, and care.

Evelyn will be remembered for her gentle strength, selflessness, and unwavering love for her family. Her legacy lives on through the many lives she touched, both personally and professionally, and especially through her son Keith, daughter Dana, and their children.

She is preceded in death by her husband Charles W. Smith; granddaughter Kristen Smith Lewis; parents Ellis and Dora Knapp; brothers Melvin Knapp and Alton Knapp; and sisters Irene Lee, Scarlet Fitzgerald, and Sharon Morace.

She is survived by her son Keith Smith and wife Lina Floyd Smith; daughter Dana Smith Walker and husband Darrell Walker; grandchildren Kara Anne Smith, Jordan Smith, Matthew Walter, and Sarah Beth Walter; great-grandchildren Paytonn and Lucy; brother Ellis Knapp Jr.; and sister Cathy Richerson.

A service to celebrate Evelyn’s life was privately held for the immediate family and led by Pastor Larry Hubbard of Riverside Baptist Church. Interment will be at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, next to her husband, Charlie.