Vertis E. ""Smitty Smith

Vertis E.""Smitty"" Smith, 85, of Baytown was born February 9, 1929, in Burnt Prairie, IL and passed away Monday, September 22, 2014, in a Houston hospital. He was a U. S. Army veteran of the Korean War, where he served with the 25th Infantry Division and retired from Gulf Oil in 1979. He was a member of Second Baptist Church and Cedar Bayou Masonic Lodge #321. He loved his race horses and trained them himself.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Maggie Smith; daughter, Kathy Diane Zlomke; and sister, Hattie Mae Walker. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth Gail Smith of Baytown; daughter and sons-in-law, Debbie and Truman McIntyre of Crosby and Jerry Zlomke of Baytown; son and daughter-in-law, Kirk ""Smitty"" and Marcie Smith of Highlands; brothers and sisters-in-law, Theodore Joseph and Ruth Ann Smith of Carmi, IL and Billie Ray and Dana Smith of North City, IL; sister, Vergene Gittings of Carmi, IL; grandchildren, Jamie Lynn Hicks, Jerry Wayne Zlomke, Jr., Kaleb Michael Smith, Joseph William Smith, Christopher Alvarez, Kristen Bennett, Jacquelyn Bennett, Truman McIntyre, Jr., Curt Lyn McIntyre, and Brandy Ramirez; and numerous great grandchildren.

His family will receive friends at Navarre Funeral Home Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Thursday, September 25, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at Navarre Funeral Home with Rev. Mark Stafford officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Cedarcrest Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Kirk Smith, Kaleb Michael Smith, Joseph William Smith, Jerry Zlomke, Jerry Wayne Zlomke, Jr., and Christopher Alvarez.

To view the online obituary or to post a tribute for the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.