William "Tad" Smith

On the morning of December 29, 2023, Tad, aged 66, passed away from natural causes at his home in Suwanee, Georgia. Tad was born on March 31, 1957, in Wichita, Kansas, to the late Dell Soto Moutray and Marilyn Edwards (Wichita West High School Class of 1957). Tad was adopted by the late William Clay Smith and Marie Blanch Vogel.

Tad lived on a horse farm in Barrington Illinois with his loving adoptive family and was a member of the Barrington High School Class of 1975. Tad enjoyed and excelled at sports, games, and, later, playing music. Like his father, Dell Moutray, Tad became a respected musician. He left us suddenly at a time when he gave countless others joy by entertaining and playing the guitar, saxophone, or mandolin. Those Tad touched with his music made his life more complete. He was also generous. His band, South Rock, and his duo, with his partner, CJ Stephans, also performed for fundraisers for the less fortunate.

Tad is preceded in death by his birth parents, Dell Soto Moutray and Marilyn Edwards, his adoptive parents, William Clay Smith and Marie Blanch Vogel, and his loving wife, Gina Smith (née Thompson).

Tad is survived by his partner Carol “CJ” Stephans (Turner); sister Terri Campbell (née Smith) (Greg) and their son Chad; a daughter Kelley Dayton and her son Blake Saylor; a daughter Heather Kegney (Shaun) and their children Casey Smith, Landon Darrell, Evan Kegney, and Teagan Kegney; a daughter Megan Smith and her children Kaitlyn Donahoo, Liam Donahoo, and Everett Donahoo; a paternal sister Belinda Sue Moutray and brothers Paul Allen Moutray, Steve Moutray; maternal brothers Gregory Rutledge and Gerald Rutledge, his South Rock band members Sammy Howard, Tony Bell and Wayne Potts, his cat Princess, and much more family, friends and musicians who join us in mourning his sudden passing.

A celebration of life was held recently in Georgia with family and friends.

Tad made everyone a better person for being a shining star in their orbits. Our love and friendship for Tad transcends his death; no one can take away our cherished memories. It is said that no one truly dies until their name is spoken for the last time. To those who loved him, cherished his friendship, and or admired his musical talents, keep him in your hearts and say his name,  for he will always be with us in every note we hear.