Friend, Robert "Keith" Smith Passed this Week

By Daniel Taverne

I just thought I’d say a few words about a man I really liked. He passed away this past week after loosing his battle with cancer.

I went to his funeral this afternoon, and listened to a preacher accurately assess the man that I simply called Keith.

It must have been around 1994 or 1995 when I first met him. I was just learning the brick laying trade because my employer, Ron Brubaker decided I had enough drive, determination and brains to be a good layer.

Anyway, I met him on a job at Frenchman’s Bend subdivision. I could tell he was a really good brick layer then, and listened to him make comments about how my work and the work of some of my comrades was below his standards.

I began cultivating a relationship with him then. I’d ask him questions, and he’d answer them. Simply put, I began learning from him then.

At the time, he was also working for someone else as well. And I didn’t see him for quite a while on that job until I ran into him on a job at ULM’s new Library. He actually sounded glad to run into me again.

Then, after that year went by I started working for a guy, Ken Wyatt, and some time after that, Keith ended up working for him as well.

I was so greateful to fate that I met someone who would be nice enough to help me learn my trade. It wasn’t like he was always talking to me, I could observe him, and how he worked the trowel, lifted the blocks, plumbed the walls ect.

He taught me how to work the shade, and that you cant see plumb and level, but you can see straight and crooked.

Many summers came and went working beside him. Well, maybe not many… butr at least 4. Sometimes, the sun would be beating down and he’d get one of us other workers to smear sunblock on his back.

I told him one day that I liked working beside him because when I did, my work always seemed to look better than when I didn’t.” He said, “You know that’s a real compliment when you tell someone that.”

We worked at several jobs, many I can’t remember: Riser Middle school, corky’s BBQ, BBQ west on North 7th, Lenwill elementary school, Swarts middle school, Clabourn middle school, several houses in North Point Subdivision, many houses in the Ouachita Parish area.

The last time I saw Keith was last February or March at Monroe’s Marde Gras Parade/party. I’m visually impaired now, so he saw me before I saw him and he hollard over, “Hay Dan! How you doin bud?” He had a big smile on his face. That’s how I’m going to remember him… not what I saw there in the casket today.

He was a good guy with a strong spirit who really lived for his family, and spoke of them everyday. He was proud of them for what they were doing, and seemed to enjoy watching his kids grow becoming strong.

Well, this is enough I suppose. I could go on and on. Keith’s brother Kevin, another bricklayer I’ve worked beside, is a good guy too.. He seemed to be doing well today.

Scott, Keith’s nephew and another brick layer I’ve worked with, also seemed to be doing well today.

I spoke to Keith’s widow today, and what I said was really lame… sorry. I said, “How you doin?” I knew that wasn’t a good thing to ask, but that’s what came out of my mouth.

The funeral was nice… some good songs were played and like I said, the preacher was right on with his assessment of the Keith I knew.

God bless him and his family in this time, and I pray his family peace and happiness in the future.