Alvie Herman Smith

October 30, 1944 - October 22, 2020

Alvie was born in Checotah, Oklahoma, graduated Arvin High School, class of 1962, and married his high school sweetheart, Patty Jean Swearengin, on August 25, 1962. He served in the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1966, and was stationed in Santa Maria, California. Alvie grew up in Oklahoma, moving back to California in 1960. Alvie worked part-time in retail while in the Air Force, and after being discharged, he continued in that field. Alvie was In retail for many years, working for Weatherby's Furniture in Arroyo Grande, CA., and Levitz Furniture in South San Francisco, CA. After moving back to Bakersfield, he rejoined Weatherby's for a while, the Granada Oak, Reeds and Sons, and then managing the Levitz store here in Bakersfield. Alvie's real passion was golf. He loved it so much that he traveled to Austin, Texas and attended Golfsmiths school to learn club building, and repair. After graduation, he opened a Golf Shop Custom Fit Golf. He loved the science of building clubs, and repairing them. He was a perfectionist, and he was very good at it. Alvie was a warm, caring, and loving husband, a protective, caring, supportive, and loving roll model of a father, a respected, humble Grand Father, and a loving, proud, and special Great Grand Father, (known as, Grandpa and Papa.) He was a friend to all. He was the glue, the teacher, and the listener of the family. Alvie was preceded in death by his daughter, Tammy Renea Sadler Harden. He leaves behind his wife of 58 years, Patty Jean Swearengin Smith, daughter Angela Burrus - Billy Burrus, 5 grand children, Kenneth Sadler, Michael Sadler - Summer Sadler, Leah Roberts - Joshua Roberts, Ashley Tapia - Alex Tapia and Colton Harden, 9 great grandchildren, Keyada, Julie, Lucas, Melina, Lexi, Julian, Miles, Aubrey, and Jaxon. He loved to sit in his office and look out into the back yard and watch all the kids playing, especially in the Jeep. They would all pile in, (6 of them) and ride around the backyard. He said it looked like the Beverly Hillbillies. They were in the seat, and on the back. He loved to just sit in his office and look out over the backyard, he said it was so peaceful. Alvie always said that his family was his greatest legacy. He would sit and look at the family pictures on the wall, and say, look at what we have done, 58 years, and all of those beautiful children. God has truly blessed us.