Emmett “Taylor” Smith III (E.T.)

Emmett “Taylor” Smith III (E.T.), age 82, of Helena, passed away Friday, September 16, 2022. Taylor was born in Canton, MS on April 12, 1940 to Emmett
Taylor Smith, Jr. and Mary Kathryn Ray Smith. Taylor graduated from John Tyler High school in Tyler, TX in 1959. He then attended college at Stephen F. Austin
State University in Texas on a scholarship for track and football and received a BS in Business in 1963. He was celebrated for his speed as a running back in college
and would have gone on to have a great career in football if it were not for a knee injury. He also ran track and was so fast he qualified and competed against Bob
Hayes in the Nationals and became an alternate for the Olympics. He was literally addicted to football and watched every game he could, both college and professional.

Taylor had a long career in Real Estate and Financial Planning. He was a long-time member of The Gideons International and loved his Shelby West Camp, its
mission and members, and found great joy in their ministry. Taylor was also a member of the Rotary Club and the Lions Club International.

Taylor was preceded in death by his loving wife of 25 years, Victoria Houston Hill Smith; parents, Emmett Taylor Smith, Jr. and Mary Kathryn Ray Smith; daughter
Terri Gehrmann, brothers Walter Thomas and Eugene Thomas and sister Theresa Ford. He is survived by his daughters, Tyane Dietz (Don), Temple Rodriguez
(Gilbert), Kathryn Evans (Victor); stepchildren, Troy Hill, Dr. Trey Hill (Jenny) and Tami Toups (Gabe); grandchildren, Courtney Gehrmann, Will Gehrmann, Grayson
Rodriguez, Garner Rodriguez, Taylor Marie Evans, and Aslyn Evans; step grandchildren, Victoria (Tori) Toups, Gabe Toups, Emma Toups, Sophie Hill, and
Lillian Hill; sisters, Sandra Debenport and Rose Teer (John); nephews Dan Debenport and Dylan Thomas; and nieces Misty Sturrock and Nicole Thomas.
A Celebration of Life will be Monday, September 19, 2022 at Cornerstone Church (2694 Hwy 58 Helena, AL 35080). A Gathering will be held from 10AM to 11AM
with the service to begin at 11AM. Pastor Tim Trimble will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Gideons International Shelby West Camp
(P.O. Box 832 Alabaster, AL 35007) or to Aarons Staff at Cornerstone Church (2694 Hwy 58 Helena, AL 35080).

The family would like to thank the many dear friends and fellow Gideons who cared so well for Taylor the last few years. We also wish to thank the doctors and
nurses at Shelby Baptist Medical Center and Shelby Ridge Rehabilitation Center.