Roger G. Smith

Roger George Smith Of Houston, TX, age 69, born in Newark, NJ, the son of George Smith and Helen Lois Wood Smith, passed away on Saturday, November 5th, 2016, surrounded by his loving family. Roger graduated from Verona High School in 1965 and married his wife Jean Sawyer in 1978. They started their life together in Erin, NY, moving to Houston in late 1981 for a warmer climate and new opportunities. There were many facets to Roger’s personality. He was a quiet person with a large personality. Many people didn’t know that Roger was very spiritual, a healer of sorts, a palm reader as taught by his late grandmother, and had the ability to see more than what could be seen with just the naked eye. Roger made many friends and business acquaintances throughout his life and travels. He was friendly and charming, and would be fast friends with anyone he met. Roger could speak about anything, to anyone, because of his vast intellect and knowledge. If you played trivia games with him, or any other game you would want him on your team, IF you wanted to win. Roger was an avid guitar player and a master craftsman woodworker. He handcrafted many pieces of furniture, remodeled kitchens, baths or houses for his family, as well as restoring many old furniture pieces for museums and family. Roger had the skills and intellect to do anything he wanted, and liked to do things his way. So, with his keen ability to communicate, along with his innumerable skills, he created a construction company, where he was well respected for his quality workmanship and integrity. Roger was often consulted for his valued opinion because of his wealth of knowledge and ability to logically put things in perspective. Mostly though, work did not define or drive him as much as his family. In life, Roger loved and valued his wife, children, family and friends more than anything. He would always make time for family, and give of himself, above anything else. There were those who thought so much of him, they adopted him as their father. Roger leaves a large hole in this family and he will be very missed. Roger is survived by his wife of 38 years, Jean Marie Sawyer; beloved children Brandon Crane Merle Smith with wife Carolina Desiree Smith and adored granddaughter Lilyana Nell-Marie Smith, TX and Mallory Paige Smith with her partner Drew Blair, Austin, TX. Siblings; sister, Barbara (Jeffry) Davis, Tucson, AZ and brother, Craig (Sally) Smith, Houston, TX; nieces, Heather (Shane) Jaime, Katy, TX; Ardea (Liam) Maddock, Tucson, AZ; and nephews, Justin (Rina) Smith, Katy, TX and Crane (Lauren) Davis, Phoenix, AZ . Roger was also survived by many in-laws whom he loved very much: Mother-in-law, Betty Mae Sawyer, Boardman, OH; Sibling-in-laws, sisters-in-law, Barbara (Leonard) Shock, Erin, NY; Bertha (Richard) Holton, Horseheads, NY; and brothers-in-law, William Sawyer, Clearwater, Fl. and Donald R. Bennett Jr., Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and many nieces and nephews he was very fond of. Roger was a father figure to Jeremy Chamberlin, and a best friend to Doug Merschat. Roger was preceded in death by his parents George Smith and Helen Lois Smith; grandparents, George Smith and Margaret Heim Smith; grandparents-in-law, Howard Elmer Wood and Helen Irene Crane Wood; father-in-law, Merle Edward Sawyer; sisters-in-law, Merle Louise Bennett and Lisa Sawyer. A service and celebration to honor Roger's life will be held 11/11/16, 7 pm, at St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church, 13350 Ashford Point Dr., Houston, TX 77082. In lieu of flowers, if you so choose, please make a donation in his honor, to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, at www.stjude.org, a charity he supported