Napoleon Smith

Napoleon Smith, of Safford, entered into rest Sunday morning, April 30, 2017, at the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, with his loving family around him. He was 57.

Napoleon PeterRay Smith was born to Rosalee Washington and James Smith on September 23, 1959, in Safford, Arizona. He grew up in a little town outside of Safford, called “Little Hollywood.” PeterRay, as he was known to many, attended the Safford School District.

Later in life he met and married Sylvia Grant. To this union were born six children, two of which preceded him in death. Napoleon had a love for adventure and following his divorce from Sylvia, he lived his life how he wanted.

Napoleon worked several odd jobs but worked most often as a truck driver. He liked driving across the country until his retirement early in 2009, due to health issues. To fill his time, he liked to hang out with numerous friends and became known as a “ladies’ man” because he liked to flirt. This flirting with one companion led him to having a daughter named Tatyana.

Napoleon liked to work on broken-down cars, getting them fixed up and running again. Then he would trade his friends for their broken-down cars to fix for them. He also liked motorcycles, owning several.

Napoleon is survived by: his five daughters, Sonya Garcia of Mesa, Chiquita Smith of Mesa, Darlene Smith of Spokane, Washington, Cheyenne Smith of Safford and Tatyana Bondae of Benson; three brothers, Walter Smith of Tucson, Joe Washington of Tucson and Johnny “Beaver” Smith of Tucson; one sister, Darlene Wilson of Safford; and eight grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by: his father and mother, James Smith and Rosalee Washington; two daughters, Maria and Marie Smith; four sisters and two brothers.

Funeral services for Napoleon will be conducted Saturday, May 6, 2017, at 2:00 p.m., at Vining Funeral Homes “Chapel of the Valley.” Arrangements are entrusted to Vining Funeral Home.

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