Business, Government Legal News from throughout WVMany gather for Hulett Smith funeral

Many gather for Hulett Smith funeral

More than 150 people gathered in Beckley Friday afternoon to say their final goodbyes to West Virginia's 27th governor, Hulett Carlson Smith, who died Jan. 15 in Arizona at age 93.

Two visitation services took place Thursday evening and Friday morning at Tamarack where Smith lay in repose in the Hulett C. Smith Theatre.

During the hour-long funeral service at Beckley Presbyterian Church on Friday afternoon, the Reverend John C. McKinnon compared Smith's life to a passage from the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes. McKinnon said Smith had "seen many seasons" of life, including two wives, three daughters, one son who lives in Beckley, 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

McKinnon also brought up some of Smith's actions as governor: abolishing the death penalty and enacting some of the first mine safety regulations.

McKinnon drew laughs by recalling that Smith was "a snappy dresser."

McKinnon shared Smith's legacies in insurance, health care, business and media in the Beckley area outside of his time as governor, from 1965-1969.

The service did not have much pomp and circumstance, but several dignitaries were there, including many military members. Smith was a U.S. Navy World War II veteran.

Former governors Gaston Caperton and Bob Wise were in attendance, as well as former governor and now-Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va. and Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.

Smith was buried at Sunset Memorial Park. His family asked for donations to the Beckley Area Foundation or Beckley Presbyterian Church in lieu of flowers.