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Obituaries

Obituary for Ernest Lee (Cowboy) Smith, Sr. Ernest Lee (Cowboy) Smith, Sr.
Retired CSX Brakeman Was Former Clifton Forge Resident

Ernest Lee (Cowboy) Smith, Sr., age 89, of 4848 Westhill Drive, Roanoke, Virginia, formerly of Clifton Forge, died Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at Brookdale Assisted Living, Roanoke.

He was born in Fordwick, Virginia to the late Harry Tucker Smith and Louise Parker Smith.

Ernest was a retired brakeman for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and CSX Transportation for 42 years.

He was a member of the Clifton Forge Moose Lodge #1683, and he was an Atlanta Braves fan.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by wife of 55 years, Peggy Lee Campbell Smith; three brothers, Maurice Smith, Donald Smith and Franklin "Tucker" Smith; four sisters, Margaret Ann Colvin, Nell Johnson, Mary Jo Colvin, and Geraldine Hogue Mills.

He is survived by four daughters, Tammy S. Cook and her husband, Timothy "Pic" of Louisa, Margaret S. Gibson and her husband, Robert of Goshen, KY, Kristin S. O'Neal and her husband, Jeff of Beckley, WV, and Lorie Smith and her significant other, John Molumphy of Roanoke; a son, Ernest L. "Lee" Smith, Jr. and his wife, Carolyn of Clifton Forge; four sisters, Charlene Staples of Charleston, S.C., Caroline Woebke of Staunton, Wanda Wolfe and her husband, David "Punkie" of Waynesboro, and Kay Lawson of Fayetteville, GA; a brother, Winston "Wink" Smith and his wife, Linda of West Point; nine grandchildren, Elexis Comer, Jessi Cook, Elizabeth Smith, Rebecca Kelly, Christopher Gibson, Sydney Horn, Chloe O'Neal, Sophie Treadway, and Gina Campbell; six great-grandchildren, Tucker Comer, Bryce Comer, Kenley Crush, Kylee Crush, Harper Gibson and Hayden Gibson; a host of nieces and nephews; and special friends, Butch and Jackie Frantz of Roanoke and Richard and Billie Britt of Botetourt.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, February 13, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, with Reverend Rob Gibson officiating. Interment will follow at Craigsville Cemetery, Craigsville.

Pallbearers will be Richard Britt, Butch Frantz, Christopher Gibson, Ryan Treadway, Alex Horn, and Jamie Comer.

The family will receive friends on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at Nicely Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Brookdale Assisted Living, the Holiday fund "staff appreciation" at 1127 Persinger Road, Roanoke, VA 24015.

Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, is handling arrangements.

To send condolences to the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com.