Jerry B. Smith

Jerry B. Smith, age 93, of Sweetwater, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at Hendrick Hospice.

A Memorial service will be held 10:00 A.M., Thursday, July 14, 2022 at Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Draper officiating.  A private graveside will be held later.  Arrangements are under the direction of Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home.

Family will receive friends at the funeral home after the memorial service.

Jerry was a Korean Veteran serving in the U.S. Air Force. He served as a gunner on a Combat Crew on a B36.  He was stationed in San Antonio, Texas, Fort Worth, Texas, Denver,  Colorado, Travis Air Base, California, Spokane, Washington, Elisen Air Base, Fairbanks, Alaska and Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa,  serving from September 11, 1950 to July 9, 1954,  Jerry was proud to have served his country in the Military.

Jerry was a native of Sweetwater, Texas being born to Albert C. Smith and Willie Mae Tuttle Smith on December 10, 1928.  He  attended school in Sweetwater graduating in 1946.  When he was in Newman High, he played football all 4 years and stayed over to play in the fall of 1946.  He was also a member of the Future Farmers of America.  He received his BBA in 1950 from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene and later a Masters (MED) in 1957 also from Hardin Simmons.  He taught his first year in the same class room at Philip Nolan Elementary that he was in as a 5th grader.  He went to serve as Assistant  Principal & Coach at John R. Lewis Elementary.   He was the first Principal of Southeast Elementary School, Sweetwater, before moving to Texas City, Texas in 1965.  He served as Principal of Kohfeldt Elementary, Fry Junior High School and Texas City High School, all in Texas City, retiring in 1987.  He loved and missed all of his students.  He kept up with many of his former students over the years.  He, also owned and operated a ranch south of Sweetwater, near Maryneal for 25 years.  He loved hunting at the ranch and fishing especially when he lived on the coast.

Jerry married Eleanor (Rinky) Boyd in January 1951, she passed away in August 1991 of cancer.  They were parents to Sara Jane Smith Stagner and Dan S. Smith.  Dan passed away March 2005.  Jerry then married Margie (Hardy) Cornoyer on March 7, 1992.  He was a member of First Baptist Church, Sweetwater where his grandmother and mother were members going back to 1912.  He helped with the organization of Trinity Baptist Church in 1957 and was a member there for several years.  Jerry and Margie later joined Roscoe First Baptist Church.

After retiring, he became a Stained Glass Artisan and made hundreds of pieces over the years.  He enjoyed working in his shop and enjoyed having a garden and doing his yard.  Bird watching and traveling were his favorite past times as well as his passion for dogs.

He is survived by his daughter, Sara J. Stagner and special friend, Marshal Fulmur of Denison, Texas, grandson, Kelsey Liles,  step-son, Louis Cornoyer of Austin, Texas, step-daughters, Paula Chisolm and husband Ron of Plano, Texas, and Barbara Davis and husband Roddy of N. Richland Hills, Texas, stepgrandsons, Colin Chisolm, Riley Davis and wife Katie, Caleb Davis and wife Meghan, step great grandchildren, Jacob Chisolm, Everleigh Davis and Jonah Davis.

He was preceded death by his parents, wives, Eleanor (Rinky) Boyd Smith and Margie Cornoyer Smith, son, Dan S. Smith,  and brother, Billy P. Smith.

Honorary pallbearers will be  Kelsey Liles, Colin  Chisolm, Riley Davis, Caleb Davis, Bill Johnson, Gary Brown, Nolan Harvey, and Jay Lawrence.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hendrick Hospice, 1651 Pine Street, Abilene, Texas 79601 or the charity on one's choice.