Ken Smith

James Kenneth “Ken” Smith, 81, loving husband, father, and grandfather, went home to be with our Lord and Savior on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, with his wife and children by his side. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 26, 2019, at First Christian Church in Tyler, Texas, with Dr. Chris Pulliam and Vincent Doan officiating. A visitation/reception at the church will follow immediately after the memorial service. Ken was born on September 26, 1937, at home in Telephone, Texas, to James Warner “Dub” Smith and Undene Mozelle Widner Smith. He graduated from Bonham High School in 1956, where he received his rank of Eagle Scout, and he worked as a disc jockey in Bonham while in high school. In college, he continued his career as a disc jockey, paying his way through school in Austin, Denton, and Dallas. While in college, he joined Kappa Sigma fraternity in 1958, and he met the love of his life, Reba Fay Roland, and married her in August 1959. He graduated from North Texas State University in 1960, working as a disc jockey in Sherman where he and Reba lived during their first few months of marriage. In January 1960 they moved to Tyler, where he continued to work as a DJ and then changed his career and began working for Peoples National Bank. Ken and Reba had a daughter, Angela Dene Smith, in 1962 and a son, Timothy Roland Smith, in 1965. In 1963 Ken began his long-term career as a pharmaceutical sales representative for SmithKline, and French, and he worked for the company for 34 years until his retirement in September 1997. While working for Smith Kline, he rose to Executive Pharmaceutical Consultant and went back to school to receive a certification as a Certified Medical Representative. He and Reba were long-time members of First Christian Church, where he served as Evangelism Chair, Elder, Elder chair, and Elder Emeritus. Family held a special place in Ken’s heart. He coached Tim’s elementary athletic teams, and he spent time going to dance recitals, band functions, and his children’s many other extra-curricular activities during their years in elementary, junior high, and high school. He loved to fish and hunt and took his son, his son-in-law, and his grandsons with him regularly, fostering in them a love for the outdoors. He loved to visit his father-in-law in Hamlin, Texas, dove hunting with him and the rest of the family every Labor Day weekend. He also loved to take his mother and father fishing on Lake Palestine, and he loved to deer and turkey hunt. After his children’s marriages, he opened his arms, loving his extended family. His 4 grandchildren were the pride of his life, and he loved and spoiled them in any way he could, attending as many of their extra-curricular activities as possible. He especially loved the fact that his 2 oldest grandsons, Blake and Trent, followed in his footsteps, receiving the rank of Eagle Scout as he had; that his grandson Clayton loved and participated in basketball throughout high school; and that his granddaughter, Lindsey, participated in cheerleading and volleyball throughout high school. Ken was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving family including his wife, Reba Smith; his daughter, Angela Dene Smith Billings (Jeff) of Tyler; his son, Dr. Timothy Roland Smith (Jennifer) of Tyler; his grandsons Blake Cole Billings of Lubbock, Trent Hudson Smith (Sydney) of Fort Worth, Clayton Roland Smith of Tyler, and his granddaughter Lindsey Christine Smith of Tyler. Honorary pallbearers are Hank Bryant, Bob Dunn, Darrel Jones, David Lowry, Jim Moser, Dr. Merwyn Pickle, and Joe Rosenbaum. If desired, memorials may be made to the First Christian Church Building Fund, 4202 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler, Texas, 75701.

Ken Smith

September 26, 1937 - January 23, 2019