Shannon Lee Smith

Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4, at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Home. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.

Shannon was born October 11, 1967 in Nacogdoches, Texas. to Dr. Robert Aaron Smith and Susan Sharp Smith. Shannon was a graduate of Nacogdoches High School and received his degree from Texas A&M University majoring in Economics and Business Management. While at A&M, Shannon assumed multiple leadership positions which included President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, Chairman of the Interfraternity Council and recipient of the Stephen G. Parker leadership award for outstanding student leadership at Texas A&M. Shannon continued his education by attending the Center for Bilingual and Multicultural Studies in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and multiple masters level programs including the Risk Management program at the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, and the Institute for Comparative Political and Economic Systems at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. While at Georgetown, Shannon worked for Lee Atwater, Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Later he moved to Dallas, where he began his career in financial services and married Marcie Anderson, also from Nacogdoches, on July 22, 1995. While in Dallas, Shannon held Vice President positions at Bank One, Merrill Lynch, and upon returning to Nacogdoches, A.G. Edwards. In 2006, he obtained his Certified Financial Planner designation and a Masters in Financial Planning from the College for Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado. In 2007, he founded Smith & Partners Financial Services, LLC in association with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Smith & Partners was recognized for being in the top ten independent wealth management firms in Texas and in the top 1% in the nation. The company later merged with Parkway Wealth Management Group, and in 2018, Shannon retired as a Managing Director.

Shannon was a member of First Baptist Church. Also active in his community, he served as a board member for the Nacogdoches Economic Development Corporation, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, The United Way, Nacogdoches Rotary Club, Nacogdoches A&M Club, The Solid Foundation Association, and the Pineywoods Chapter of Safari Club International. He also served as Chairman, Vice Chairman, and board member for Nacogdoches Medical Center for multiple terms.

Personally, Shannon balanced his time well in regard to every part of his life. He never sacrificed his family in pursuit of his business interests or hobbies. His life revolved around his family. He was a devoted son, husband, father, and friend. He loved his wife of 25 years, with all his heart and had absolute respect and adoration for her. He was also extremely proud of his two outstanding sons, Ben and Andrew, and the fine young men they have become. He lived his life with the utmost integrity and honesty and was a true gentleman in every circumstance. He truly loved people and looked for the good in everyone. He was the eternal optimist and always looked for a way to accomplish anything. He believed that success in any endeavor was simply built on a mountain of many small failures, and the only real failure in life was quitting. There was absolutely no quit in Shannon and he was determined to overcome every adversity. In January 2017, Shannon was diagnosed with ALS. In spite of this unfavorable diagnosis, he and his family accepted the battle with courage and dignity and his faith never wavered.

Shannon enjoyed hunting and traveling, but he particularly loved working at his farm where he spent much of his time with family and friends. He especially felt the peace and closeness to God that the outdoors gave him.

He is survived by his wife, Marcie, and their two sons Ben Smith and Andrew Smith of College Station, Texas; stepmother, Vida Smith Raney whom he thought of as a second mother; sister-in- law, Robin Pantalion Smith Cefalu and huband Joe of Nacogdoches, and her sons Gunnar Smith, Jake Smith and Gus Smith; mother-in-law, Delores (Losie) Sutton Jenkins; sister in-law, Kalin Anderson Kendrick of Nacogdoches, and sons Will Kendrick and wife Anna of Nacogdoches, and Luke Kendrick of Ft. Worth; stepbrothers, Paul Vacula and wife Susan of Lufkin, Kurt and wife Tanya of Austin; step-sister, Cassey Scales of Plano; also survived by other extended family members.

Shannon was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Robert Aaron Smith; mother, Susan Sharp Smith; brother Slaton Sharp Smith; and brother-in-law Jeffrey Paul Kendrick.

Pallbearers are Will Kendrick, Luke Kendrick, Gunnar Smith, Jake Smith, Gus Smith, Randy Leonhardt, Michael Kimbrough, Bradley Reynolds, Jeff Davis, David Sandoz, and Jason White.

The family wishes to express sincere and heartfelt gratitude to Rhonda Henry, Shdonna Polley, and Tenny Brown, for their loving care and support for Shannon over the past several years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations either be made to alstexas.org or a charity of your choice.

To view livestream please visit www.FBCNac.org/Live just prior to service time.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.