He joined the Navy after high school and soon met his wife to be Nellie Faye Mize of Greenville TX. They married December 27, 1958 and initially lived in Oak Cliff, TX then moved to DeSoto, TX in 1983.
He worked at LTV and retired in 1994. He had a passion to fix appliances and had an appliance repair service for many years around Quinlan and DeSoto area. After retirement from LTV, he started his own air conditioning business until 2018. His other passion was to help anyone in need. He was a long term member of the Masonic lodge in DeSoto TX.
He loved spending time with his lodge brothers, friends, family and especially his grandkids.
He is survived by his wife, Nellie Faye Smith; Son, James Shannon Smith and wife Shannon Kay Smith, grandsons Zachary Tyler Smith and Keegan Taylor Smith; Son, Matthew Brian Smith and wife Maria Mae Smith, granddaughters Alexandria Michelle Patrick & husband Nicholas Robert Patrick and Faith Elizabeth Smith; Sister Peggy Jo Butler; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
