FORT BENNING, GEORGIA
Layla Rae (Wilson) Smith, 24, of Fort Benning, Georgia passed away Thursday, July 28, 2022. She was born Aug. 15, 1997, in McCall, Idaho to Richard Wayne Wilson Jr. and Ammanda Spring (VanBoven) Wilson.
She married Steven Lee Smith Jr. on July 28, 2017, in Eagle River, Alaska, he survives.
Layla grew up in Alaska and was a graduate of Chugiak High School in Chugiak, Alaska.
She was a devoted and loving military wife supporting her husband and a loving mother to their daughters.
Layla was adventurous, enjoyed the outdoors, hiking, camping, gardening, and escaping with her friends.
Survivors include her husband Steven Lee Smith Jr. of Ft. Benning, GA, her two daughters Aria Rae Smith and Gemma Rae Smith both at home, her parents Richard Wayne Wilson Jr. and Ammanda Spring (VanBoven) Wilson of Eagle River, Alaska, brothers Ethan Wayne Wilson and Quintin Wayne Wilson both of Oregon, a sister Lillian Rae Wilson of Alaska, father-in-law Steven Lee Smith Sr. (Rebekah) of Franklin, IN, mother-in-law Jill Ann (Huett) Ziegler (Thomas Gwinn) of Martinsville, IN, paternal grandmother Ruth Louise Smith of Indianapolis, IN, maternal grandmother Pamela Sue Neely of Richland, WA, maternal grandfather Daniel George Van Boven, of Chugiak, AK, paternal grandmother Greta Linden and paternal grandfather Richard Wayne Wilson Sr.
She was preceded in death by grandparents Gail Edmonds Smith, James Wesley Huett, and Anna (Burkett) Reilly, maternal great grandfather George VanBoven, maternal great grandmother Susie Bell Bradford and maternal great grandfather John William Neely.
Pastors Jacob Smith, Keith Groves and Greg Smothers will conduct a service on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, at 1 p.m. at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN and will be live-streamed at www.swartzmortuary.com. Friends may call Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, from 12 Noon until service time at the mortuary. Burial will be at Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin, IN.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made for the benefit of Layla’s daughters Aria Rae Smith and Gemma Rae Smith, please make checks payable to Steven Lee Smith Jr. and may be given at the mortuary or mailed to Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) Franklin, IN 46131.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com. Information 317-738-0202.
