Barbara Smith

Born in 1937 in Essex Missouri to Roy and Bessie Atchley Barbara was raised in the rural country of Southeast Missouri. Her mother died when she was only 4 years old and that event created a bond between she and her 3 other sisters that was unbreakable.

She completed her high school education at Parma High School in 1955. She left the cotton farming life of southeast Missouri and went to live in St Louis. She spent time as a nanny and as a model before she met a curly haired Texan in 1957 and a short 3 months on August 10 became Mrs. Virgel Smith.

They started their family in 1959 with the birth of their daughter Liz and 1962 with the addition of Virgel Jr. In 1963 Barbara and Virgel packed up their children and returned to Texas where they bought some land in Bell County on the banks of the very young Lake Belton.

Barbara went onto to further her education and in 1968 earned her bachelor's degree from Mary Hardin Baylor College. She began her lifelong teaching career at Hettie Halstead Elementary in the fall of 1968. She earned her master's degree from Texas A and M. She also taught in Temple and completed her career teaching at Clark Elementary, Fort Hood. After her retirement she taught classes at Central Texas College for an additional 5 years..

She and her husband, partner and best friend spent their time traveling. Barbara has traveled to Europe. She has sailed the Hawaiian islands and has ridden a burrow across the Rio Grande. She and Virgel have traveled the United States together and spent endless hours camping, fishing and playing.

Barbara loved her family and is survived by her husband of 68 years Virgel Smith. She is survived by her daughter Liz Smith McClurg and husband Tom of Jasper, her son Virgel Smith Jr and his wife Liz of Temple and her Grandson Garrett Lee of Pearland and one great grandson Tucker Lee of Pearland.

A Celebration of Life at Crawford Bowers for Barbara will be held Thursday, October 23, 2025 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM. Burial will follow in the Copperas Cove City Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff at Shady Acres Nursing Home in Newton for the excellent care provided to Barbara in the last year during her battle with Alzheimer's. They also want to thank Olive Branch Hospice for the care and kindness shown to Barbara and the entire family during her illness.