Shelby H. Highsmith

Shelby H. “Smitty” Highsmith, 102 years of age, of Round Rock, Texas passed from this life on Thursday, February 25, 2021 in Austin, Texas. He was born March 28, 1918 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois to Shelby N. and Vivian (Morris) Highsmith.

Shelby enlisted in the United States Navy on December 12, 1939, and served during WWII in the Pacific Campaign with VP-41 & VP-136 of Pat Wing 4. Chief Highsmith was plane captain of Catalina PBY sea planes, of which he completed in excess of 25 missions in the Aleutian Islands against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Kiska Island. During this time Chief Highsmith was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals. He completed his WWII service in the Philippines. Chief Highsmith served his country honorably and retired with 21 years of service on December 31, 1959 at the Naval Air Station, Alameda, California. Shelby and his family moved to Texas in 1968 where he spent the next 40 years selling real estate as a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker.

Shelby was a 75-year member of the Reno Masonic Lodge #124 of Hutchinson Kansas, 32nd degree Scottish Rite Freemason, El Zaribah Shrine of Phoenix, Arizona, and the BPOE Elks of Mesa, Arizona. "Smitty" enjoyed riding his customized ice chest, and attending Rodeo Austin, Round Rock Express baseball games, and the Republic of Texas Biker Rally.

Shelby is survived by his daughter, Brenda Highsmith; sister, Doris Highsmith; grandson, Shelby S. Highsmith; son-in-law, Robert “Bob” Doss; granddaughters, Malissa Barry and Jennifer Drake; along with four great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Family who went before him were his parents; wife, Donna Carpenter Highsmith; daughter, Donna Sue Doss; sisters, Mabel Taylor, Aline Loy, Wilma “Billie” Highsmith, and Maxine McCowen.

Visitation for "Smitty" will be between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., Sunday, March 7, 2021 at the Cook-Walden/Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628.

Graveside services with military and masonic honors will be at 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 8, 2021 at the Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas.

Honoring Mr. Highsmith as pallbearers will be Jerry Sawyer, David Spence, Prentice Simpkins, J.B. Brockway, Chad Larson and Wade Rushing.

For those desiring, memorials are suggested to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive,

Tampa, FL 33607, 855-401-4897 or by logging into this link: https://donate.lovetotherescue.org

Due to the current COVID protocols, guests are required to wear protective face masks at all times and practice the recommended six foot social distancing.