Joel Lee Smith, age 80, of Conroe, Texas, passed away peacefully at home with his wife by his side on the 2nd day of August, 2022, following a brave 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Joel was born in Lubbock, Texas on May 8, 1942, to the late William Lee and Jody Nathalie Smith. Joel’s parents relocated their family to Texas City, Texas, where he grew up and graduated from Texas City High School in 1960. Joel went on to earn his undergraduate degree at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. It was there that he met the love of his life, Judith Louise Ellis. Joel and Judi were married on March 16, 1963.
Joel knew by an early age that he wanted to be an engineer. After earning his M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1965, he began his career at Shell Chemical in Deer Park, Texas. From there he enjoyed an illustrious career as a Chemical Engineer, which saw him at various engineering firms and even running his own company for a few years. Joel was especially skilled at designing chemical processing plants and making presentations on refinery designs to large clients. Joel helped design some of the plants in the US and abroad. In a real way, he contributed to the improvement of his profession and his country. America is stronger today because Joel Smith designed some of her critical industry. He finally retired in 2016 from one of the largest engineering companies in the world, Worley Parsons, as a Senior Technical Director of Refining, one of only two positions held in the entire US.
Most important to Joel was his family. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and was always available whenever his children or family needed him. Joel was a lifelong avid sports fan, particularly for his favorite Houston teams, the Astros and the Texans, and Sunday afternoons were often reserved for game time, no matter who was playing. When not watching sports, some of his favorite pastimes were attending Sunday Bible study, playing couples bridge, taking his wife to dinner, reading books, and spending time with his family.
Joel was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Judi Smith; children Jerry Smith of Tampa, FL, Jennifer Tenney and her husband Jasen of The Woodlands, TX, Jeffrey Smith and his wife Lisa of Albuquerque, NM, and Jana Wise-Charnow and her husband Lee of Grants Pass, OR; sisters Janice Rosenberger and her husband Ken and Pixie Christensen and her husband Carl; grandchildren Tabatha Honeycutt, Avrie McClellan, Jessie McClellan, Hayden Wise, Saida Wise, Ian Smith, Samuel Wise, Bailey Tenney and Cooper Wise; great grandchildren Christen Swift, Jordan Honeycutt, Jordan Wise and Harper Honeycutt; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation for Joel will be held at 9:00AM on Monday, August 8, 2022 at First Methodist Conroe, 4308 W Davis St, Conroe, TX. Funeral services will be at 10:00AM at First Methodist Conroe, followed by a graveside service at Garden Park Cemetery in Conroe. Serving as pallbearers are Jerry Smith, Jeffrey Smith, Jasen Tenney, Lee Charnow, Hayden Wise and Samuel Wise.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.metcalffuneraldirectors.com for the Smith family.
