George Kenneth “Smiley” Gale
October 26, 1930 – March 18, 2025
Funeral services for George Kenneth “Smiley” Gale, 94, of Cairo, GA, are at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Chapel of Clark Funeral Home, Cairo, GA. Dr. Ed Lyon will officiate. Services will conclude in the chapel. Private interment will be in Tired Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Whigham, GA. Mr. Gale passed away at his home on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
Pallbearers will be Wade Hunziker, Mike Mills, Carroll Hopkins, Heath Phelps, Jonathan Bradford, Charles Manny, Gene Smith, Jimmy Green, David McCurry, Wayne Tootle and Ed Timmerman.
Mr. Gale was born on October 26, 1930, in Darien, GA, to the late William Gale and Nora Ribron Gale. On August 17, 1958, he married Shirley Anne Maxwell Gale, who preceded him in death on April 11, 2012. They were married for 53 years.
Smiley graduated from Darien High School in 1950. He served his country in the United States Army for two years. He attended Brewton Parker College, George Southern and Peabody College where he received his master’s degree in education. His first teaching years were at Darien, GA, where he coached baseball and basketball. Later he was administrator and principal in the McIntosh County School System. In 1994, he moved to Reno, GA, to enjoy his retirement. Smiley was happiest on the golf course enjoying a beautiful day with friends. He was a member of the Perkins Men’s Group, the Tired Creek Golf Club, the Grady County Historical Society and the Reno Community Center. Smiley was a devoted and faithful member of Cairo First United Methodist Church for many years. At the time of his death, he was a member of the South Georgia Conference United Methodist Church.
Survivors include: his loving Cairo family, brother-in-law, Arthur Reynolds Maxwell of Cairo, GA, sister-in-law, Jackie Spence Maxwell of Cairo, GA, nieces, Donna Stuckey, Theresa Daughtry, both of Cairo, GA; cousins, Marguerite and Walter Maxwell of Cairo, GA, Walt, Lori, Regan and Giles Maxwell of Wellington, FL, Rhea, Jonathan, Eva Ann, Elizabeth Bradford of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, Betty Maxwell Phelps of Cairo, GA, Tara, Heath, Ellis Claire and Maxwell Phelps of Valdosta, GA; his loving Darrien, GA family, nieces, Janice Andrews, Francis Parisa; nephews, Frankie Gale, Wayne Gale, Stanley Collier, Sydney Collier, Carol Lanoux, Pat Lanoux and Harold Lanoux; and a host of extended family members.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, William and Nora Gale; his wife, Shirley Anne Maxwell Gale; brothers, Jack Gale, Everett Gale, Dave Gale, Frankie Gale; and sisters, Lucille Collier, Fannie Buchanan, Ada Lanoux, Elnora Gale.
Memorials may be made in Mr. Gale’s memory to: Bethel United Methodist Church Building Fund, c/o Pam Mason, 1369 Brookwood Drive, Cairo, GA; or the Reno Community Center, 150 Byron Street, Cairo, GA 39828.
The family will receive friends at Clark Funeral Home immediately following the funeral service.
