Paul Gilbert Smith age 89 of Cottonport

Funeral services for Paul Gilbert Smith of Cottonport will be held on Monday, February 8, 2016 beginning at 12:00pm at St. Mary's Assumption Catholic Church in Cottonport. Visitation will be held on Monday, February 8, 2016 beginning at 8:00am until the time of service at Escude Funeral Home in Cottonport. Burial will commence at St. Mary's No. 2 Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Escude Funeral Home
Paul Gilbert Smith, age 89, passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at Lafayette General Hospital. He was preceded in death by his wife, Georgie Bearb Smith; son, George Paul Smith; parents, Gilbert & Bernadette Smith; and three sisters & three brothers.
Those left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Pam Lemoine (Christopher) of Cottonport, Josette Santamaria (John) of Goudeau, and Carla Gauthier (Newell) of Cottonport; his fourteen grandchildren and thirty one great-grandchildren.
Paul and his wife moved from Church Point, LA to Cottonport, LA around 1952. At that time, he purchased farm land from Joy Theaters and began farming rice. Paul was one the first farmers to farm soybeans in the Avoyelles area. Over the years, he acquired many acres of farm land and he took pride in his land and crops. Paul was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and husband his family and will be missed dearly.