Paula Geraldine Smith was born December 7, 1933, in New Braunfels, TX and peacefully went to be with the Lord on February 24, 2025. She was surrounded by members of her loving family in her residence at Legends Oaks assisted living. Geral (as she was known to her family and many friends) enjoyed living at Legend Oaks. During her almost two years there she often referred to Legend Oaks as “my home”. She considered the staff and her care givers there as family.
She was proceeded in death by her parents C.C. Smith and Sarah Taylor Smith; Charles “Skipper” Reeves (whom she called the love of her life); daughter Deanna Reeves; brother Clayton Smith and his wife Joyce; sister Rosie Haas and two granddaughters.
She is survived by her children Paula Felsing (husband Jerry deceased); Janyce Jones and husband Bruce; Jeffrey “Jay” Reeves and wife Deby; Cheyenne Frye and husband Bobby; fourteen grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; brother-in-law Shorty Haas; numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved and was close to.
She was born in New Braunfels in a wood frame house in “Mill Town”. She lived and worked most of her life in New Braunfels. During her life she had many different jobs but the one she took most pride in was at Teen Connection. The position from which she retired.
She was a very talented, self-taught, seamstress. She not only sewed clothes for her family, but there were also many others that would hire her to make their clothes. She enjoyed many crafts, especially making holiday themed door wreaths for family and friends. She dearly loved to cook; it was her way of showing love to others. And of course, she loved large family gatherings where she would often bring multiple dishes and desserts.
While her and Skipper may have gone their separate ways, he shared this sentiment with more than one of their children “I will always love your mom, she is the mother of my children”. Her and Skipper were both professed Christians. In the bible, 2 Corinthians 5:8 the apostle Paul writes “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord”. We believe that while they are in the glorious presence of our Lord, they are also reunited with each other and Deanna to spend eternity together in love and peace. We miss and love all those that have gone before us.
