Billy Eugene Smith

Billy Eugene Smith, 81, of Loraine passed away Monday afternoon in Valley Fair Lodge. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 4 at the Kiker-Seale Funeral Home Chapel at 10 AM with Ernest Smith and James Adams officiating. Burial will follow in the Loraine Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 5 to 6:30 PM on Wednesday, April 3 at Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Eugene was born at home January 1, 1932 in Silver community south of Loraine to Tom and Irene Smith.

His family relocated to Stanton 15 years later. On his first day at the Courtney school, he met his bride of 60 years, Pearl Howard. He later told his family the day he first saw her, he knew he wanted to marry her. They were married on his birthday, January 1, 1953. Eugene served in the Army from 1953-1955. They returned to farm cotton and raise cattle and kids south of Loraine in 1961, where Pearl still resides. Eugene was baptized into Christ as a young man and served the Lord all his life. Eugene and Pearl were involved members of the Crocket and Smiley Church of Christ in Loraine, where he served as an elder. He served on the Loraine school board for 9 years and supported Mitchell County 4-H and FFA chapters throughout his life. Eugene loved the important things in life: the Lord, his family, ice cream, horses, and playing dominoes. He also made the best barbeque chicken in the world.

He is survived by his loving wife Pearl; children, Jeanne and David Childers of Shallowater, Nancy and David Switzer of Ballinger, Thresa and Craig Brown of Conifer, CO, Dwayne and Cheryl Smith of Loraine, Landy and Marla Smith of Caldwell; brother, Gerald and Barbara Smith of Plainview; sisters, Maxine Hanson of Bellevue, Glynda and Glen Madison of Stanton, Carol Micheletti of Ramona, CA; sisters-in-law, Lena Holt of Ector and Nita Howard of Stanton; grandchildren, Katy Switzer, Casey and Jennifer Childers, Seth and Cerina Switzer, Emily and Blake Walterschied, Cory Harrell, Nicky and Lee Junge, Nathan Smith, Sarah and Scott Dykowski, and Brandy and Brandon Ley; 13 great grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He follows his parents Tom and Irene Smith, and granddaughter, Rhonda Childers.

Services are under the care and direction of Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Online condolences to the family may be made at www.kikerseale.com