Mary Smith

Mary Alice “Memaw” Smith, 91, went to be with her Lord on October 15, 2008, with her family by her side. A celebration of her life will be held at 1:30 PM on Saturday, October 18, 2008, at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler with Rev. Kim Beckham officiating. Burial will follow at Tyler Memorial Park under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mary was born on February 3, 1917, in Whitney, Texas to Jerry and Lillie Pinson. While attending Mildred High School, she was active in basketball, cheerleading and tennis. She married W.A. “Curley” Smith on October 14, 1938, and they had four girls, Myrna, Judy, Kay and Debbie. She was retired from Tyler ISD and was a faithful member of Central Baptist Church for 64 years. An avid sports fan, Mary enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks, Saturday shopping excursions and spending time with her family. Her grandchildren were the lights of her life and she cherished the times they spent together. There was always room in Memaw’s cart for one more toy and always room on her couch to snuggle in close. Her life was a wonderful example and testimony of her faith. It was very important to her to instill Christian values in her family. She loved her family and her Lord with all her heart. We will miss her sense of humor, generous spirit and friendship. The most prominent things she did in life were always done without expecting anything in return. She did them from her heart, not for recognition, credit, or personal gain. She did them so others could have a little easier time on their journey. In every generation, God raises up people, unlikely heroes, who are true to Him and His word. The measure of their lives is not the absence of failure but the presence of God’s gracious forgiveness and the faith to obey His call. Mary, in her family’s eyes, was one of God’s unlikely heroes. She was preceded in death by her husband, W.A. “Curley” Smith who passed away in 1989. She is survived by a loving family including four daughters and sons-in-law, Myrna and Robert Rix of Heath, TX, Judy and Joe Wilson, Kay and Dwayne Cooper, and Debbie and Robert Johnston, all of Tyler; four granddaughters, Sherry Blakeborough of Frisco, TX, Shelly Cooper and husband Kary of Fairview, TX, Kim Barker and husband Kevin of Whitehouse, and Courtney Yearty and husband Jason of Flint; eight grandsons, Jason Rix and wife Amanda of Poetry, TX, Rusty Wilson and wife Linda of Churchpointe, LA, Mike Wilson and wife Kim of Whitehouse, David Wilson of Whitehouse, Keith Cooper of Tyler, Kirk Cooper and wife Shiela of Godley, TX, Chris Johnston and wife Ally of Austin, TX, and Kyle Johnston of Tyler; sister, Lois Kunkle of Katy, TX; sister-in-law, Erma White and husband Bob of Arlington, TX; 23 great-grandchildren, four great great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Smith’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be great-grandsons, Collin Cooper, Carson Cooper, Camden Cooper, Preston Grier, Brennan Blakeborough, Braxton Cooper, Cameron Cooper, Chase Wilson, Mason Wilson, Cole Yearty, and Conner Yearty. Visitation is scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 PM on Friday, October 17, 2008 at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. Memorials in honor of Mary Smith may be made to the Central Baptist Church Youth Building, 6253 New Copeland Road, Tyler, Texas 75703 or Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701.

Mary Smith

February 3, 1917 - October 15, 2008