Memorial service for Gayle Smith, age 87, of Sulphur Springs will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Fred Lewis officiating. Inurnment will take place at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Ft. Worth at a later date with Danielle Berry, Whitney Hitchcock, Scott Smith, Hayden Smith, Luke Smith, Cole Smith, Brittany Smith and Drake Smith serving as pallbearers and Chuck Spence, Mike Childress, Roger Price, Lynn Blevins and Billy Wickerson serving as honorary pallbearers. There will be no formal visitation. Mr. Smith passed away on Friday, July 28, 2017 at Sulphur Springs Healthcare and Rehab.
Gayle Edward Smith was born on January 25, 1930 in Ft. Worth Texas, the son of Raymond Kelsey Smith and Gwendolin Lavern “Verna” Deaver. He married Betty Jean Bartlett on September 9, 1955 in Groves, Texas. He graduated from Sweetwater High School and received his Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry from Texas Tech. Gayle was an Eagle Scout, a member of the Alpha Zeta Agriculture fraternity. He served proudly in the US. Army as Sgt. 1st Class in both Germany and the Korean Conflict. He managed the Swift Packing plant in Ft. Worth. Gayle was a family man and they were everything to him.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; sons, Dan Smith of Sulphur Springs, Clay Smith and wife, Kathy of Ft. Worth, Steve Smith and wife, Donna of Sulphur Springs, Thomas Smith and partner, Greg Parsons of Arlington; grandchildren, Danielle Berry and husband John, Whitney Hitchcock and husband Travis, Scott Smith, Hayden Smith and wife Ashley, Luke Smith, Cole Smith, Brittany Smith and Drake Smith; great grandchildren, Jaegar Berry, Emma Hitchcock, Chase Berry; sister, Nancy Guthrey of Buda Texas.
Gayle was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials can be made to Boy Scouts of America or The Hope Foundation, PO Box 131030, Tyler, Texas.
Arrangements are under the direction of Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home.
