Bonnie Patton Smith

BONNIE PATTON SMITH (Mrs. Clyde W. Smith) of 4100 Jackson, Avenue, Austin, Texas. Born in Crockett, Texas, the daughter of the late U. S. Congressman and Mrs. Nat Patton, a prominent East Texas political family. Bonnie attended school in Austin during her father's tenure in the Texas Senate and when the family moved to Washington, she attended Holton-Arms School for girls. While living and attending college in Washington she met and married Clyde W. Smith, a Major in the United States Army. In 1959 the Smiths moved to Austin with their young son. They became active in many charitable organizations. Bonnie served on the Boards of the Austin Heritage Society, Women's Symphony League, Paramount Theatre, Austin Ballet Society, State Hospital Construction Management Board, a volunteer for the KLRU Auctions American Heart Association and Cancer drives. One of her favorite volunteer jobs, because of her political background, was acting as a docent at the Governors Mansion and the LBJ Library. She was a member of the Austin History Center, Friends of the Library, and a founding member of the Grandparents Club of Children's Hospital. The Smiths were members of Tarrytown United Methodist Church. Because of her love for Austin, this was reflected in her many years of work with the Heritage Society of Austin. She was one of the Founders and organizers of the Heritage Guild and helped to organize and start the Guild's very successful "1886 Tea Room" at the Driskill Hotel. Surviving are her husband, Clyde W. Smith, one son, Clyde W. Smith, JR. (Rick) and his wife Natalie, one grandson, Ryan Smith of Houston, two granddaughters, Amie and Meghann and her husband Chris, two great-grandchildren, Jarrid and Alyssa, of Killeen, and sister-in-law Eleanor Patton of Crockett. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 21, 2008 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 22, 2008 at Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com