DAPHNE — In the end, smiles outnumbered tears at Thursday morning’s memorial service for police Corp. Scott Bidwell and officer Stephen Watts.

That’s because this event offered “a perfect day and opportunity” to reflect on Bidwell’s and Watts’ lives, and the lives they touched, said Mayor Fred Small.

Bidwell, 38, died Dec. 9, 2006, while at a professional conference in Florida.

Watts, 29, died Jan. 29 at his residence in Daphne.

Small said he’d known Bidwell for 16 years.

“And that was an honor for me,” he told Bidwell’s family, and about 100 attendees.

Watts was also special to Small, he said.

“He was also very dear to my heart since he was the first officer I went to see graduate at the academy after I became mayor,” Small said with a smile at Watts’ mother and sister.

City chaplain Grant Barber also expressed support for the late officers and their families.

“Our city will always remember and honor the ones you loved,” Barber said. “These have been days of challenge but we love and appreciate you,” he said.

Sue Morris, Bidwell’s mother-in-law, smiled through her tears as she recalled their life together.

“I remember the chief talking about a time when an expectant lady was stranded during one of the hurricanes down at the yacht club,” Morris said. “And when they needed a volunteer to go get her — out in the storm, with all of the power lines down — Scott was the first one to say he would do it,” she said proudly.

“He did that to help another family, even though he had his own family at home. But that’s just the kind of guy he was.”

Watts’ mother, Virginia Strickland, said, “There are times when I still can’t believe he is gone. But I know that God had a plan for him, even though it was different than the one we had.”

His younger sister, Christina, smiled as she recalled his unsuccessful attempts to teach her to play poker.

“He even took back his lucky hat, said I was corrupting it because I played so badly,” Christina Watts said with a laugh.

Capt. Scott Taylor said framed photos of the late officers — along with the shells from the 21-gun salute at each man’s funeral — will be displayed at the police department’s office.

“They were great officers and great people, too,” Taylor said.

Police Chief David Carpenter said he hoped the ceremony helped the grieving families.

“These two officers were well respected, they were both professionals and did a good job while they were here,” Carpenter said.

“We just want their families to realize that we in law enforcement also still miss and love them.”