Floy Lee Smith

Bright-Holland Funeral Home has scheduled services for 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 13th, at the First United Methodist Church in Bogata with Dr. Ed Lee officiating. Burial will follow in Sulphur Bluff Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the fellowship hall of the church one hour prior to the service.

Floy was born in Sulphur Bluff, Texas on February 8, 1931 to R. W. “Wilbur” and Nora Bassham Waller. Unknowingly her future grandmother-in-law, Mrs. El Vira Smith, assisted as midwife in her delivery.

After dating Carl B. “Bunky” Smith on horseback for some time, she married him in Sulphur Bluff on Valentine’s Day 1951. For the next 59 years, they lived on their Red River County ranch and raised crossbred and registered Beefmaster cattle. Floy continued operating the ranch after his death in 2010.

Floy’s roles as wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and homemaker, at various times included serving as a Sunday School teacher, fish-hook baiter, children’s taxi driver, cowgirl, school room mother, family seamstress, large animal veterinarian, and an excellent cook of wide reputation. Her homemade bread always sold quickly at the church bazaar, and her chicken-fried steak was legendary. She frequently opened her home to others on holidays. Floy also was the receptionist for Dr. E. E. Brooks in Bogata, Texas for 26 years.

She was a member of the Bogata United Methodist Church and numerous ranching affiliated organizations. Floy and Bunky enjoyed square dancing, boot-scootin’ and playing card games with friends. She particularly looked forward to the Bassham reunion in Sulphur Bluff each year.

She is survived by a son, Monte Warren Smith & wife Frieda of Crowley; a daughter, Patti Lynne Knowles & husband Bruce of Deport; grandchildren, Dana Floy Murphy & husband Matt of Dallas, Monica Ashley Jones & husband Cody of Crowley, Jesse Adam Knowles of McKinney, and Austin Warren Smith & wife Vanessa of Ft. Worth; great grandchildren, Owen and Violet Knowles of McKinney and Bristol, Brylee and Bronson Jones of Crowley; step-great grandchildren, Jordyn and Kathleen of Fort Worth; and many cousins and friends.

Casket bearers will be: Adam Knowles, Austin Smith, Cody Jones, Matt Murphy, Jimmy Helfferich, and Neil Rozell.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the American Cancer Society or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.