Zella Fay Boodell Smith

Zella Faye Widner Boodell Smith, affectionately known as “Nana”, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at the age of 98, surrounded by family. She was born on Wednesday, May 21, 1924, in Zavalla, Texas to the late Thomas Alvin Widner and Zena Willams Widner. She met and married Albert Admire “Curly” Boodell in Newton, Texas and had ten children. Zella moved with her family to Baytown as a young woman. Albert passed away in 1967.

She began working in the food service department for Goose Creek ISD in 1966. Cooking was a passion of hers and she always made sure everyone had a hot, “home cooked” meal at the schools. While working at GCCISD, she met and married her second husband, Emile “Smitty” Smith and celebrated 43 years of marriage until his death in January of 2013. Zella retired after 23 years with GCCISD. She loved to work and continued for another several years at Citizens Bank preparing the same “home cooked” meals in the cafeteria. Zella and Emile were long time members of the Goose Creek Lodge 1192 AF&AM in Baytown.

She had a passion for the Astros and rarely missed an opportunity to watch them. She also cheered on the Cowboys when they played. Zella loved to travel. She enjoyed many trips all over the U.S. to food service conventions with dear friends she had made while working. She and Smitty traveled to many states on rock-hunting trips, which was a passion of theirs. She loved dancing, gardening, cooking, and canning vegetables and jelly, reading the newspapers cover to cover daily and attending her grandchildren’s events and graduations. Her family brought her great pride and joy and she was loved by all who knew her.

She is preceded in death by; her parents Zena Williams Widner and Thomas Alvin Widner, sisters Lollie Easley, Myrl Gibson, Maxine Nabors, Verla Eastman, Minnie Hawks, Ima Jean Roberts, and Johnnie Brimberry, brothers Burton Widner, Thomas Alvin Widner, Jr., Charles Widner, husbands, Albert Boodell and Emile Smith, two infant sons Kenny and Albert Boodell, daughter Nelda Brahm, granddaughter Debbie Foster, grandson Troy Jason Boodell, great- grandson Joshua Michael Benson.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory, children Zena Hale (husband Delbert), Diana Frankeny (husband Richard), Helen Naismith (husband David), Albert “Butch” Boodell (wife Glenda), Ronnie Boodell (wife Cathy), Sandra Garcia (husband Robert), Troy Boodell (wife Shelia), sister-in-laws Mary Widner and Audrey Widner; 18 grandchildren, Lisa Brown, Richard Frankeny, Scott Hale, Kelli Naismith Achilles, Brian Naismith, Spence Naismith, Kaci Moncada, Shana Herrington, Christy Broadway, Brady Boodell, Patricia Zimmerman, Lori Miller, Kenny Boodell, Britney Trousdale, Chad Trousdale, Bradley Trousdale, Leah Trousdale, Hali Garcia, Zena Ferguson, Brittiney Vaughan, Holly Martin, Blake Sharp; 38 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren and many step grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The family expresses a special thank you to Jan Cordero Eastman, beloved niece who visited weekly on Sundays after church and to her long-time caregivers Carrie Powell, Cynthia Hernandez and Britney Trousdale, as well as the Hospice nurses who cared for her in her last days.

Friends are invited to visit with the family on Thursday, February 2, from 5-8 pm at Earthman Baytown Funeral Home at 3919 Garth Road, Baytown Texas, 77521. Funeral services will be officiated by Pastor Josh Joines on Friday, February 3, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am at Earthman Baytown Funeral Home with a Committal service to follow from 11:30 am-12 pm at Earthman Memory Gardens Cemetery, 8624 Garth Road, Baytown, Texas, 77521.

Honoring the family as pallbearers are grandsons Chad Trousdale, Kenny Boodell, Brady Boodell, Spence Naismith, Brian Naismith and Bradley Trousdale; honorary pallbearers, grandsons Richard Frankeny and Scott Hale.