Roger D. Smith of Prague, Oklahoma, passed away March 10, 2026, at the age of 87. He was born December 29, 1938, to Millard and Juanita (Lewis) Smith.
Roger was born a few miles northeast of his childhood home on the Dukes Family Farm, where he was raised and developed a lifelong love of farming, livestock—especially horses—and hard work. The values instilled in him during those early years shaped a strong work ethic that carried through every stage of his life.
He was a member of First Baptist Church in Paden, where as a young teenager he attended a revival service and accepted Christ as his personal Savior alongside his mother.
As a student at Paden High School, Roger worked riding horses for wages. At age 16, he traveled to Illinois to work in a corn cannery for Green Giant prior to his junior and senior years. Over the years, he held a variety of jobs, including meat cutter at Howard Tyler’s Locker Plant in Prague and truck driver for Kitchen Oil Company in Stroud. He later spent 17 years driving for Yellow Freight Lines, from which he retired.
After retirement, he returned to the Paden and Prague areas and worked for several owners of Tri County Farm Center. His love of farm life was evident as he worked odd jobs for several farmers and ranchers in the area over the years.
Roger was also a skilled carpenter, having learned the trade from his father. Later in life, he developed a deep enjoyment for gardening, taking great pride in his flowers, flower beds, and yard—a passion inspired by his mother. He continued caring for flowers even during his time at Parkland Manor Living Center, where he had been a resident for a little over a year.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Roger is survived by his six children: Karen Gandy of Oklahoma City; Ethan and Jennifer Smith of Paden; Cody and April Smith of Heavener; Anita and Shawn Henshaw of Sapulpa; Angie and Byron Christenberry of Meeker; and Shawn McCutcheon of Atoka. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Additional survivors include his brother, Jim Smith of Claremore; his niece, Angela and Weydan Flax of Tulsa; special friends Brad Martin of Prague and Janie Cook of Paden; as well as a host of cousins and friends, especially those at Parkland Manor Living Center.
A graveside memorial service will be held at Oakdale Cemetery in Paden at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2026 with Cody D. Smith officiating under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener, Oklahoma.
The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the staff of Parkland Manor Living Center and Luminos Hospice for the excellent care and compassion shown to their Dad and “Pa Pa Roger.”
In lieu of flowers, consider donating to the Activity Fund of Parkland Manor Living Center or the Prague Senior Citizens Center.
To sign Roger’s online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.
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