Thomas D. Smith

Thomas Jack (T.J.) Smith, 86, of Independence, Missouri, formerly of Eagle Lake and Pearsall, Texas, passed away on May 6th in Independence, Missouri after a short illness. T. J. was born January 4, 1927 to Luther and Mae Smith in Frio County, Texas. He graduated from Pearsall High School in 1944. He married his high school classmate, Loraine Nail, January 12, 1946. She passed away in 1995. T. J. later married lifelong friend, Doris Vandal who died in 2007. T. J. is survived by his current wife, Alice Warnberg, whom he married in 2008 in Independence, Missouri. Alice has been a true blessing to T. J. and the family in her care for him during his short illness. He is also survived by his four children: Tommy Smith and wife Debbie of Pearsall, Texas, Wanda and husband Sam Center of Cherokee, Texas, Steve Smith of Zapata, Texas and Leanne and husband Joe Waligura of Leakey, Texas. Seven grandchildren: Chris, Tiffany, Brian, Leslie, Chase, Ashley and Craig. Six great grandchildren: Grace, Grant, Brooke, Gracyn, Kirby and Samantha. T. J. trained in the military as a gunner in the field artillery. His unit was scheduled to ship out to Burma when the surrender was signed with Japan to end WWII. After his marriage to Loraine he was employed by the Security State Bank of Pearsall for 7 1/2 years. The banking vocation was a little too confining so he accepted the position of Director of Public Works for the city of Pearsall for the next 10 years. In 1964 he was hired by the City of Eagle Lake to be their City Manager. He served in this position for the next 17 years retiring in 1981. After 4 months of semi-retirement T. J. was hired by Moorman Mfg. Company of Quincy, Illinois as a feed salesman for Colorado County. Later he was promoted to District Manager with responsibility for recruiting and training new salesman and public relations. He retired from Moorman in 1993. For 25 years T. J. and Loraine owned and operated the Eagle Lake Dairy Delite. He was also active in the ranching business and found time to do youth work especially with the FFA and 4-H programs in the local schools. He was active in community service and served as a volunteer fire chief for 44 years. T. J. actively served the Lord in the Priesthood from 1952 until his death. He served as the Presiding Elder for the Pearsall RLDS Church for 10 years. He continued serving this church as a Counselor for 2 different Pastors. He also served as the volunteer Camp Ground Director of Camp Sionito in Bandera, TX for 35 years. In the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints T. J.’s duties escalated from Priest to Elder to High Priest to Patriarch/Evangelist. He was elected in 2001 to serve the General Church as the Treasurer for 3 ½ years until a Bishop was ordained and set apart to serve full time in this position. A Memorial Service is scheduled for May 9th at 11am at the Church’s Gathering Place, 2820 M-291 Frontage Road, Independence, Mo. Graveside services and final interment will take place at 1pm on May 13th in the Pearsall Cemetery, Pearsall, TX. “Never let the pain of death steal the joy of living”