Sean Philip Smith's Obituary
Sean Philip Smith, age 43, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, passed away on September 2, 2022, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. Sean was born on July 6, 1979, in Dallas, Texas, to Kevin Smith and Donna Claxton Smith. Sean graduated from West Monroe High School in West Monroe, Louisiana and attended Louisiana State University. He married Julie Cotton on September 7, 2002, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Sean was preceded in death by his father, Kevin Smith. He is survived by his wife, Julie Smith; children: Brighton, Berkeley, Boston, and Bixby; grandmother, Reba Mangum; mother, Donna Johnson and husband Bobby; sister Jennifer Berry and husband Curt; brothers Clay Smith and Derick Smith; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Delano and Ginger Cotton; sister-in-law, K.C. Pummill and husband John; sister-in-law Ashley Mattingly and husband Bo; brother-in-law Tim Cotton and sister-in-law Janet; numerous nieces and nephews and many other loving family members and friends.
Sean was a committed follower of Jesus Christ and served for most of his adult life in bi-vocational ministry. His ministry began at Sky Ranch Camp in 1998, where he met the love of his life, Julie. He went on to serve as youth pastor and worship leader at Restoration Community Church in Cedar Hill, Texas. Throughout that time, he also worked at First American Title Company and Heritage Auction Galleries as a project manager. In 2011, the family relocated to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to be closer to Julie’s family. During his time in Fayetteville, Sean served as youth pastor and worship leader at Grace Church. He transitioned to working as a data protection engineer, first at Veritas, and most recently for Walmart Global Tech in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Sean’s enjoyed sports of many kinds (but especially LSU football!), playing guitar and learning new worship songs, solving puzzles, online video gaming with friends, acquiring knowledge and trivia, telling dad jokes, and playing board games every Thursday night with Julie and the girls. Sean was an accomplished musician, exceling at trombone, guitar, and other instruments. He was a proud member of LSU’s Golden Band from Tiger Land and remained an avid LSU fan, even while living in Razorback country. He used his love of music to lead many in worship over the years, including with his church family at Fellowship Fayetteville. Even in his last few days on this earth, he was worshiping Jesus through song and helping others to see the beauty of the Lord.
Sean loved Julie and his four girls deeply! He led them with love, faith, humor…and many safety rules! Protecting them from harm was a top priority, but his greatest concern was their love for God. He was extremely blessed and proud to see all four girls baptized in May of 2022 during Fellowship Fayetteville’s family camp. Every single night, starting from the first night he was a father, he would tell the girls three things – I love you so much, you are so beautiful, and God made you just perfect.
Other than love for God and love for his family, Sean was often recognized for his quick wit and sense of humor. It was what first attracted his wife to him, and what drew many people to him. Laughter, paired with faith in God, kept Sean and Julie joyful through their 20 years of marriage.
Sean’s favorite verse in the Bible, which he lived out until the day he died, was Matthew 5:16, which reads, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”
A celebration of his life will be held 1:00 p.m., Thursday, September 8, 2022, at Fellowship Fayetteville following a private burial at Fairview Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Smith girls’ college fund at either www.ugift529.com (enter ugift code H8M-X52) or Signature Bank/Fayetteville – Smith College Savings.
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