Seneca Justice Smith

Seneca Justice Smith of Austin, Texas, passed on July 7, 2014, at the age of 36. A beloved husband, father, son, brother and grandson. He will be missed by his family as well as a host of friends and associates. He was a computer genius, a talented musician, an awesome handyman, loved all things Japanese, and playing video games with friends and his children. He is survived by his wife Anna Zetchus Smith, children Hamlet Raetz, Indigo Raetz, Liberty Grace Raetz and Stella Jude Smith; sister, Jasmine Smith of Oakland; parents, Ron and Claudette Smith; grandmother Stella Walter; and grandparents, Keith and Joan Justice of Wisconsin..

Seneca was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on September 14, 1977. During his childhood his family lived in Overland Park, Kansas and later Newtown, Connecticut. .They moved to Austin Texas in 1988. He graduated from McNeil High School in 1995. Then he moved to Athens, Georgia where he attended the University of Georgia graduating cum laude in 2003 with a B.S. degree in Computer Science. While attending school, he worked part time at the University Computer Center and upon graduation, he was promoted to full-time as a database designer.

Seneca returned to Austin in 2007, and worked as a free-lance contractor where he met his beloved wife, Anna, on the job. His last contractor, Hoovers (a database company and subsidiary of Dun & Bradstreet), liked his work and hired him to a full time position in 2009, where he remained as a Senior Analyst/Developer until his passing. He was genuinely loved and respected by all of his co-workers, who numbered in the dozens, and he had a positive effect on everyone that he touched. He was an excellent listener and always made time to help others with a problem, any problem, whether work or not.

When Seneca met Anna she had 3 children from a previous marriage aged 11, 7, and 4. With time they came to look up to him as their Dad, and he loved them as if they were his own. In 2009 Anna gave birth to their daughter, Stella Jude, and they celebrated their blended family by marrying in 2010. His precious family was his pride and joy.

Seneca's easy-going, caring personality endeared him to everyone who knew him. So many have expressed their love; characterizing him as one of the nicest, kindest, most generous, and genuinely honest people they knew or had ever known. No one could receive higher praise or a greater honor.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate his life at 7:30 pm on Monday July 14th at Gateway Church on McNeil Drive in Austin