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Established 1948   Bryan Smith 1967 - Tomi Jo Smith 1966 - 2010  Tomi Ballou Smith passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 1, 2010, after a courageous battle with brain cancer at the age of 43. Tomi was born on Oct. 8, 1966 in Blackwell, Okla. to Harold and Mary Beth Chilton Ballou. She was the twin sister to Traci Ballou Bush, and the older sister to Laura Ballou Alvarado. She attended Denison I.S.D. schools and graduated from Denison High School in 1985. She received her bachelor of science in education in 1988 and masters of education in school counseling in 1994 from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She was married for 20 years to Bryan Smith. They married on Dec. 16, 1989 in Denison and had two sons, Bryant and Grant Smith. Tomi began her teaching career at Denison I.S.D. in 1988. She taught third grade at Terrell Elementary and was also a counselor at Lamar Elementary. She continued her teaching career at S&S C.I.S.D. where her children attended school. She taught fourth and fifth grade at S&S Elementary. Throughout her 22 years as an educator, Tomi earned several teaching awards for her accomplishments and dedication. Surviving are her husband, Bryan Smith of Sherman; sons, Bryant and Grant Smith; parents, Harold and Mary Beth Chilton Ballou of Denison; sisters, Traci Ballou Bush and husband Bart of Sherman, Laura Ballou Alvarado and husband David of Georgia; grandparents, Raymond and Willa Chilton of Oklahoma City; in-laws, Richard and Lauren Smith of Sherman, Hazel Smith of Denison; sister-in-law, Rhonda Copley of Bells; nephews, Justin and Josh Copley, Davey Alvarado, and niece, Kaci Bush. She is also survived by uncles and aunts: Stanley and Melba Ballou of Denison, Ronald and Patricia Ballou of Denison, Raymond Jr. and Charolette Chilton of Oklahoma City, and Bill and Liz Chilton of Yukon, Okla. Surviving immediate cousins include Robbie Parks and husband Mike of Louisiana, Tonja Miller and husband Bill of Prosper, and Kristi Corcoran of Denison; from Oklahoma: Shela Chilton Harrell and husband Randy, Kyle Chilton and wife Barbara, Lance Chilton and wife Shannon, Alycia Chilton Barry and husband Bill, Brandy Chilton, Bill Chilton Jr., Staci and husband Rhappy Talaoc. Tomi was preceded in death by her grandmother Mamie Ballou Parker; stepgrandfather George Parker, grandfather Hayston Ballou, grandfather-in-law Clayton B. Smith, grandparents-in-law Ora Bud and Mary Lou McFarland, cousin Kari Ballou, and aunt Katherine Chilton. The family wishes to invite the community to a "Celebration of Life" Memorial Service honoring Tomi on 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Trinity Lighthouse Church, Spur 503 in Denison, under the direction of Pastor Raymond England. Tomi wished to thank the community for all the prayers and financial support that was made on her behalf. A memorial in Tomi's honor will be placed at Camp Goddard Educational Camp in Sulphur, Okla. in representation of her service to the children of Denison and S&S elementary schools. Teaching children was her love and her passion. She lived for the outdoors and loved her family dearly. Her memory will live on in the hearts and minds of all she touched. Published in The Herald Democrat from Aug. 2 to Aug. 3, 2010 Cedarlawn Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 |