James Earl “Tink” Smith

James Earl “Tink” Smith was born January 27, 1954 in Borger, Texas. He was the youngest son of Stanley and Helen (Lierly) Smith. He passed away at his home in Okemah on May 2, 2024.

Tink was raised in Osage County. He went to Pershing and Barnsdall Public Schools. Tink and his brother Joe did construction together in their younger adult years with Langley Construction and then they formed their own construction company known as Smith and Smith Construction where they built houses in Barnsdall, Pawhuska, Bartlesville, Owasso and Skiatook. During that time, he met Robin and they were married on February 14, 1976. Tink and Robin made their home in Barnsdall for a few years then moved to Okemah where they have lived since 1982. In the early 90’s he worked for Burge Dunham Construction / Coast to Coast Construction where he built Maurice Stores, remodeled Payless Shoe Stores and Coney Island Stores. He then decided to come home and build homes in the Okfuskee County area. In 2015, he had to retire from working due to being diagnosed with cancer. He went into remission in 2016 and then the cancer came back in 2017. He, once again, went into remission in 2018. He and Robin then started enjoying retirement and would go camping for weeks at a time enjoying the beautiful outdoors. He loved to fish and hunt. There wasn’t a day that goes by that you couldn’t catch him out doing one or the other. He also would take his grandkids fishing too. During his time on this earth, Tink loved to play music. His favorite was playing his guitar. In his adult years, he played in a few bands where he made lifelong friendships. He played all kinds of music throughout his life. He and Robin would sit and sing and play songs for hours. His favorite thing to do was to sit and pick so his children and grandchildren could hear him play.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Helen Smith; his brother, Joe Smith and grandparents, Burl Smith, Nellie Apple and Orville and May Lierly.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Robin Smith; daughter, Jamia Smith of Wilburton; son, Shane Smith of Barnsdall; step-daughter, Holly Houlton (Billy) of Wilburton and step-son, Jared Wilson of Okemah; 9 grandchildren, Dalton, Dillon, Bryn, Kalie, Kevin, Cole, Laramie, Shae and Zachary; 4 great-grandchildren; one sister, Judy Lanphear (Jim) and several nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Services will be under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Home, Okemah, Oklahoma.

Online condolences may be made at www.ParksBrothersFuneralHOme.com.