Oct. 1, 1996 — March 20, 2024
Graveside service for Petty Officer Joshua Phillip Gawexskey Smith, 27, of the U.S. Navy was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Redbird Smith Cemetery in Vian under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service, Inc.
Petty Officer Smith was born on Oct. 1, 1996, at Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, N.C. He died on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Conn.
He was a 2015 graduate of Bixby High School and briefly attended Tulsa Community College. He started Navy bootcamp on Feb. 24, 2023, graduating with his Division earning all five competition flags, and achieving Battle “E” status. He earned the title of Petty Officer and was just beginning his C School training on his way to becoming a Submarine Information Systems Technician. He was due to graduate and report to his assigned submarine, the USS Montana SSN 794, in the Summer of 2024.
Survivors are his father, Jimmy Boyd Smith; mother, Sophie Elizabeth (Chalmers) Smith; sisters, Sarah Fishback, Torrence Freeman and Samantha Skinner; maternal grandmother, Sophie (Upshaw) Chalmers; brothers-in-law, Wayne Fishback, Ryan Freeman and Cody Skinner; as well as many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Dolly Wantella (Miller) Smith and Gawexskey Jimmie Smith; maternal grandfather, Franklin Steven Chalmers; and cousin, Kiah Fayeecha Smith.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society, https://www.nmcrs.org/get-involved/donate.
