  C.J. "Smitty" Smith 30 April 1923 - 19 December 2013 Willa Dean Smith 19 May 1926 - 7 June 2013 wed 23 February 1943   The Herald Democrat June 9, 2013 DENISON - Willa Dean Smith of Denison passed away Friday, June 7, 2013 at the age of 87. A visitation will be held Monday 6-8 p.m. June 10, 2013 at Waldo Funeral Home Sherman, Texas. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday June 11, 2013 at Lakeway United Methodist Church Pottsboro, Texas. Pastor Allen Snider will officiate. Burial will follow at Georgetown Cemetery Pottsboro. She was born to Leonard Clyde Willis and Lucille Lorena Tudor Willis May 19, 1926 at Corsicana. On February 23, 1943, she married the love of her life, C.J. Smith, and together they enjoyed over 70 years of marriage. After retiring from teaching in 1986, they spent the next several years traveling and sharing moments with friends and family. Education was important to Willa Dean, she completed her Associates Degree from Murray State in Tishimingo, Okla. but also received a Bachelors and Masters degree from Southeastern State University, in Durant, Okla. Willa Dean's professional career began at Oklahoma State University where she served as the Director of Duplicate Services for the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1970, she began her teaching career at Pottsboro Middle School, and remained there until her retirement. She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter; Priscilla Denise Vandygriff, a sister; Mary Lou Wills and three brothers; Jackie Willis, Cortez Willis, and Juan Juan Ennis Willis. She is survived by her husband; CJ Smith, three sons; Jimmy Keith Smith and his fiance Karen Biffle, Billy Clyde Smith and wife Donnett, Jackie Dean Smith and wife Lesa, one sister; Marciline Willis, nine grand children; Scott Smith and wife Heidi, Steven Smith and wife Jamie, Mindi McGehee and husband Michael Allison Britton and husband Stephen, Roben Houck and husband Glen, Allana Crouse and husband Jeremy, Savana Edwards, Jill Tidwell and husband Fletcher, Jason Vandygriff, twelve greatgrandchildren; Mackenzie Smith, Ransom Smith, Greenley Smith, Jaxson Smith, Grayson McGehee, Grant McGehee, Whitten Vandygriff, Bennett Tidwell, Bean Tidwell, Westyn Roe, Masen Carpenter, and Riley Crouse, Sister in-law Cheryl Smith. In lieu of flower donation can be made to the Priscilla Denise Vandygriff Scholarship Fund at Grayson County Community College. The Herald Democrat December 22, 2013 DENISON - CJ Smith of Denison passed away on December 19, 2013 at the age of 90. He was born to C.W. and Nina Smith on April 30, 1923 at Hobart, Okla. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter; Priscilla Denise Vandygriff; a sister, Nina Ruth Williams; an infant brother; and the love of his life, his wife, Willa Dean Smith. Willa Dean Willis and CJ were married on February 23, 1943 in Ardmore, Okla. and enjoyed 70 years together. After retiring from teaching in 1986, they spent the next several years traveling and enjoying time with family and friends. Upon completion of High School, CJ earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from East Central State College, a master in education administration from the University of Oklahoma, and a Doctoral degree of higher education in student personnel from Oklahoma State University. His professional work, of 38 years, began in 1948 in Pottawatomie County, Okla., where he served three years teaching mathematics and coaching basketball, one year as principal, and seven years as school Superintendent. He was school superintendent at Sumner, Okla., and then joined the Oklahoma State University staff as assistant director of student personnel in the College of Arts and Sciences. From there, CJ served as the assistant superintendent of Ardmore Schools before joining Grayson County College and served as executive vice president and academic dean. In 1943, after his first semester of college, he entered World War II and returned to college after the war ended. He served in the Thirteenth Air Force in the South Pacific and flew 32 combat missions. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Oak Leaf Cluster for his service. CJ was an Eagle Scout, a member of Phi Delta Kappa at Oklahoma State University, Toastmaster's Club in Stillwater, Okla., Lions Club in Ardmore, Okla., Kiwanis Club in Sherman, and a member of the Lakeway United Methodist church in Pottsboro. Survivors are his three sons; Jimmy Keith Smith and his fianc Karen Biffle, Billy Clyde Smith and wife Donnett, Jackie Dean Smith and wife Lesa; daughter- in-law; Cheryl Smith; son-in-law, Robert Joe Vandygriff; one brother; Johnny C. Smith and wife Angela; a niece, Barbara Peak and family; nine grandchildren, Scott Smith and wife Heidi, Steven Smith and wife Jamie, Mindi McGehee and husband Michael, Allison Britton and husband Stephen, Robin Houck and husband Glenn, Allana Crouse and husband Jeremy, Savannah Edwards, Jill Tidwell and husband Fletcher, Jason Vandygriff and wife Brook; 13 great-grandchildren, Mackenzie Smith, Ranson Smith, Greenley Smith, Jaxon Smith, Grayson McGehee, Grant McGehee, Whitten Vandygriff, Augustus Vandygriff, Bennett Tidwell, Beau Tidwell, Masen Carpenter, Westyn Roe, and Riley Crouse. The family will receive friends from 3 -5 p.m. Sunday December 22 at Waldo Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday, December 23 at Lakeway United Methodist Church in Pottsboro. Rev. Allen Snider of the church will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow at Georgetown Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Howard Rainwater, Rance Willis, Mindy McGeehee, Allison Britton, Scott Smith, John Smith, and Steven Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Priscilla Denise Vandygriff Scholarship Fund at Grayson College. Published in  Georgetown Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |