John Beaty Smith

Memorial services for Colonel John Beaty Smith will be held at Stewart Funeral Home in Tyler at 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 10, 2016. The family will receive visitors from 9:30-10:00, thirty minutes prior to the service. Colonel John Beaty Smith went to be with his Lord and Savior on September 2, 2016. He and his wife, Doris “Dot” Ayres Smith, had just commemorated their 67th wedding anniversary on August 31. He was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church where he and Dot were in the Care and Share Class. John was born on June 1, 1928 to Malah Lee and John Beaty Smith in Strasburg, Virginia. He had one sister, Bonnie Smith Williams, who also died this year. John graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 1950. He proudly served his country for 30 years, first in the United States Marine Corps and then as an officer in the United States Air Force. After retirement in 1979, he served as Commandant of Allen Academy in Bryan, TX. Later he worked as an Administrator of MHMR in Bryan. He and Dot moved to Tyler in 1986. His children are John Michael Smith of Tyler, Jan Smith Cooper and husband David of Tyler and Matt Beaty Smith and wife America of Maui, Hawaii. His grandchildren are Tyler Beaty Smith of Maui and Jamie Blair Cooper of Tyler. There are also several nieces and nephews. John loved the Lord and his life was characterized by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He would want you to remember him this way and honor him and our Lord Jesus Christ by paying this Spirit forward. In lieu of flowers, do something kind for someone, love one another, live with God’s peace in your heart, help someone in need, make a difference in someone’s life, donate to a charity and experience the “joy that comes in the morning”. The family would like to express heart-felt thanks to all of the staff, administrators, nurses, caregivers, and physical therapists at the Star Unit at Briarcliff and at the Hamptons and The Hospice of East Texas for the special love and care “the Colonel” received from you. The last year of his life was one of dignity and comfort because of you. Thank you!

John Beaty Smith

June 1, 1928 - September 2, 2016