Wesley Max Smith, Jr.

 Wesley Max Smith, Jr (Mack), aged 71, of Conway, Arkansas sadly left us on April 11, 2024, following a very brief illness. He was born at Barksdale AFB in Bossier City, Louisiana on December 23, 1952. He was the beloved first child and only son of Mary Gene Black Smith and Wesley Max Smith, Sr.

Mack was a gentle soul who loved his cats, both indoor and outdoor, and his nieces and family. The Smith family spent Mack’s early years in the Air Force, ultimately in Seville, Spain. He graduated from Stuttgart High School, Stuttgart, Arkansas in 1972 and for many years was the church custodian at Grand Avenue United Methodist church in Stuttgart. 

He was the constant companion of his mother until her death in 2013, when he began living with his sister, Marianne Smith Black of Conway, Arkansas. The tiny “Mack’s Cottage” was his home in Conway. He faithfully fed all cats, opossums, raccoons, and birds in his neighborhood, creating a sanctuary for all. Beyond all the neighborhood feral cats, his greatest joys were his nieces, Molly Welch (Kevin) Hegemann and Maggie Welch, and Molly’s children Pippa Quinn Hegemann and Aurik Max Hegemann.

Additionally, Wesley Max spent his days working at ILS Profiles where he was loved and respected. He especially loved ILS holidays and dances and could be a dancing machine when the right tune played.

Mack was a real fixture at his beloved Saint Peter’s Episcopal church in Conway, where he found a loving and accepting community. He regularly arrived at church 2 hours before services began on Sundays.

Mack also loved to eat more than anyone you know. Church potlucks were his favorite, or any kind of leftovers prepared by his community of friends. Occasionally his sister would cook. In 2024, he began helping with custodial duties at Saint Peter’s, faithfully showing up at 7am on Mondays to dust the sanctuary. He was an insatiable reader of westerns, sometimes reading several in one week and continually replenished from Walmart. Mack also walked all around downtown Conway every day and spent daily time at Baker Drug or the Faulkner County Library.

Funeral services for Mack will be on April 20, 2024, at 10:30am, Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church in Conway, Arkansas. A reception-celebration of his life featuring 80s dance music will follow immediately in the church Parish Hall. Interment will be at 3:00pm the same date at Lebanon Cemetery in rural White County, Arkansas where he will be laid to rest with many generations of his family. Heaven has gained a gentle soul, made whole and happy through the love of God. Memorials can be made to Saint Peter’s or to the animal rescue service of Arkanpaws. 

To view the online registry, please visit www.smithfamilycares.com/westbrook.