Jesse Dewey Smith

Jesse Dewey Smith Jesse Dewey Smith, formerly of Moro, Lee Co., Arkansas, died Thursday, 26 February 2004, in Austin, Texas. He was born 06 October 1914 in Wheatley, Arkansas and grew up in Marvell, Arkansas. His parents, William Bryant Smith and Terry Pauline Miller Smith, formerly of Wheatley and Marvell, preceded him in death, as did two brothers, William Austin Smith of Wheatley and Navy Lt.Cmdr. Robert Miller Smith of Norfolk, Virginia, and one sister, Dora Lee Smith Fey of Wimberley, Texas. Jesse was married on 29 August 1942 to Frances Marian Ramer of Plumerville, Arkansas. She is the daughter of Francis Marion Ramer and Sena Roach Ramer of that city, both deceased. After Jesse returned from the service in late 1945, he and Frances located in the town of Moro, where they lived until 1999 when they moved to Austin, Texas to live near their son. For many years Jesse owned and operated a general merchandise store and cotton gin in Moro. He served as acting postmaster for a time and as city clerk for many years. Both he and Frances were members of the Moro Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was a 32nd degree Mason. Jesse served in the U.S. Army in the Aleutians and Phillipines during World War II. He held the rank of Tec. 5 and was attached to Headquarters & Service Co. of the 536th Amphibious Tractor Battalion. Previously he had been a member of the 206th Coast Artillery, Arkansas National Guard, in Marianna, Arkansas. He saw action on the islands of Leyte and Okinawa, and he received the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against the enemy at Okinawa, 11 August 1945. Jesse is survived by his wife Frances and by his son William Ramer Smith, both of Austin, Texas, and by his grandson Oliver Preston Smith of Ft. Worth, Texas. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 28, 2004 at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 2205 Moffett. Memorials may be sent to Moro Baptist Church, Moro, AR 72368, or to the Memorial Endowment Fund, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas 78703. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78705 (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com