PARADISE, Texas — Funeral services for a beloved physician and his two sons will likely be scheduled for the middle of next week in Decatur after the three tragically died in a plane crash on Sunday.
That's according to the family of Dr. Heath Smith, who was flying back home to Paradise with his two young sons, Noah and Wyatt, after a hunting trip when their plane crashed in Poolville in Parker County.
Noah was six, and Wyatt was eight. Smith's destination was the airport in Bridgeport.
The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the crash, and it could be weeks or months before a cause is released.
But Smith's brother Landon fears that weather played a role. Sunday is when temperatures started to dip below freezing in North Texas. Landon surmises that his brother's twin-engine Cessna plane may have iced up, and he had to make an emergency landing.
"It doesn't seem real. Heath was such a great pilot. He's had his license since high school, and he consistently flew for two decades," Landon Smith said. "I knew if there was an emergency, he could land that plane anywhere. I was never worried about it."
Tributes for Dr. Smith have poured in from all over Wise County. He was born and raised with his brothers Landon and Chance in Paradise, went to Texas A&M University, and then went to medical school.
He returned to serve in that capacity in Wise County and the surrounding areas as a general surgeon focusing on bariatrics. Smith had many patients through 'My Bariatric Solutions' and was a frequent guest on 'Good Morning Texas' promoting his practice.
He was starting his 7th year as a school board member for Paradise ISD. Landon is also a school board member and served with his brother for four years.
"I'm not ready for the new normal," Landon said. "It's going to be difficult--just our family events, going back to school board meetings, and him not being there. There will be some tough days ahead for all of us."
Landon said that Smith's wife was alerted with an SOS message from Heath's phone just after noon on Sunday--indicating he had been in an accident or crash. When he wouldn't answer the phone, they went to his location and were met by first responders and emergency officials, who explained what happened.
Smith has an older son who is 11. He and his wife didn't go on the trip due to a math and science competition that was being held at school that weekend.
The pain is most significant for them.
"They don't understand what their new normal will be either. There's a void in their home. It feels like he's still not back from his hunting trip. He should walk in that back door any minute--that's what it feels like," Landon said.
Landon told WFAA that Smith, Noah, and Wyatt's funeral would all be at the same time.
Instead of flowers, Landon and his family plan on asking for monetary donations that will be given toward a scholarship set up in Smith, Noah, and Wyatt's name. More info about where you can donate should be available by next week.
Smith's 41st birthday would have been this Tuesday. It was a somber reminder of the years he and his sons spent with family.
Years Landon and others now cherish more than they did last week.
"It's better than none--but it's never enough," he said.