Mary Joan Hanson Cason Smith

Her family left Fort Worth when she was two years and old moved to Dallas, TX where she and her older brother Bob grew up near White Rock Lake. As a young girl she would walk her pet duck Henry to the lake so that they could both go for a swim. She attended Southern Methodist University where she met and fell in love with John R. Cason of Nacogdoches, TX. They married in 1949 and began raising their family of three children, John, George, and Barbara in Dallas.

Joan and John also lived and were active in Mt. Pleasant, TX for four years prior to their move to Nacogdoches in 1969.

Joan served as Nacogdoches County Commissioner, Pct 3 for twelve years. She became the first female County Commissioner in East Texas when she was elected in 1972. She retired after serving three terms and joked that she never lost an election. As county commissioner Joan was instrumental in the implementation of the unit road law, naming and numbering county roads, and planning the Nacogdoches County Senior Citizen Center among numerous other things.

Joan and John were happily married for 41 years prior to his death in 1990. In 1995 Joan married Paul H. (Pete) Smith, and they enjoyed their ‘second chapter’ together until his death in 2001.

In Nacogdoches, Joan was a long-term member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, the Heritage Club, and numerous boards for non-profit organizations as well as governmental and corporate entities, on both the local and statewide level. She was also a member of the Electoral College of 1988.

In 2009, Joan moved to Charlotte, NC where she was an active member of Myers Park Presbyterian Church and a Stephen Minister.

Joan was a loving daughter, devoted wife, dedicated mother, adoring sister, doting grandmother, faithful Christian, loyal friend, and gracious lady with a quick wit who was always up for an adventure.

Joan is predeceased by her parents; her brother, Robert B. Hanson; husband, John R. Cason; husband, Paul H. Smith; and son, George B. Cason.

She is survived by son, John R. Cason (Katherine Kellam) of Alexandria, VA; daughter, Barbara Cason Merlie (Brad) of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren: Zachary Cason (Gwen Rice) of McKinney, TX, Alex Cason Paratore (Bert) of Haslet, TX, Sara Merlie of Charlotte, NC and John Merlie (Erin) of Atlanta, GA; and great-grandchildren, Jackson and Taylor Paratore.

A service to celebrate the life of Joan Smith was held on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at Myers Park Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Millie Snyder officiating.

The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Sharon Towers and the hospice team from HPCCR who took such loving care of Joan in her final months.

Memorials may be made to Myers Park Presbyterian Church, 2501 Oxford Place, Charlotte, NC 28207 (https://myersparkpres.org/) or Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, PO Box 470408, Charlotte, NC 28247 (https://www.hpccr.org/).