James Leon Smith

parents James and Susan Smith. James is preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Mary Leah Smith; brothers, Wesley Smith and Delmar Smith.

He is survived by his loving wife, Clara Sue Morrison Smith; daughter, Nena Sue Smith; son, James Kevin Smith and wife Simaly; grandchildren, Sabrina Lee Smith and Brian Christopher Smith.

Services for James Leon Smith, 84, of Nacogdoches will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at The First United Methodist Church, Nacogdoches, with Dr. Jeff McDonald and Rev. Trent Oliver officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, Nacogdoches. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.

Leon Smith grew up in East Texas, the youngest of 3 brothers. He helped his father in the commercial fishing business and various odd jobs. He helped his mother in the country store they owned. He spent any of his extra time in one of his first loves, the outdoors, hunting and fishing.

He completed his high school education in Anahuac, Texas. He attended Peabody College in Nashville TN where he completed his Bachelor Degree in Economics, Masters in Business, and his CPA. During the summer he found work in the wheat fields of the mid-west working the harvest where he developed his love of travel. While in Nashville, he met the love of his life, Clara Sue Morrison, they were married soon after completing their degrees and were married for 62 years. They moved to the Houston area, where Leon started teaching at South Texas College. He worked for Maxwell House coffee in the accounting department, taught at College of the Mainland in Texas City and at UTMB as an auditor in Houston. While in Houston/Galveston area, they started a family. Upon determining he wanted to teach, he took a teaching position at General Beadles State College in Madison, South Dakota for the experience of 1 year. He had opportunities to continue to teach in South Dakota, or move to a larger college in Nacogdoches, Stephen F. Austin.

Not wanting to uproot his family and move to South Dakota, they settled in the piney woods of East Texas. While teaching at Stephen F. Austin from 1970 to 1980, the accounting department enabled him to impact many future leaders. He was always looking for an opportunity, and soon started working as a consultant as a loan originator and processor for SBA/FHA. That entrepreneurial spirit served him well, enabling him to retire early while still in his 50's.

Semi-retired, he focused his time on traveling and working on his flowers. Summers he would take trips all over the US and other destinations with his wife. When his wife retired, he was able to travel even more, preferring the mountains of Colorado during the blistering hot-humid summers here in Nacogdoches. His travels were slowed by a new love, his grandchildren, Sabrina and Brian.

Many afternoons, he would stop by to play and wrestle with his grandkids. While he was still mobile he continued his hobbies of flowers, and travel.

The family would like to say a special thanks and appreciation to the Staff and Nurses at Stallings Court Nursing Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be offered to the First United Methodist Church; 201 E Hospital; Nacogdoches, Texas 75965