Eddie Blanche Smith

She was born to Maede Taylor and J Ellis Cowden on March 4, 1918, in Midland, Texas. Eddie graduated from Midland High School in 1936, where she was Homecoming Queen and class favorite. She married W.C. "Bill" Smith on September 9th later that same year. Together they attended the University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tech University and then returned to Odessa where they began their family and started their own insurance agency.

Eddie was a devoted wife and mother to their two girls, Suellis and Frances. She was a wife of many talents, cooking for the cowboys when it was time to work cattle, entertaining the many friends that she had, and actively supporting her daughter's many endeavors. All of her life she pursued her love of the arts, studying with Jan Herring, Ken Hosmer, Pam Price, and Betty Lynch. She was continually taking classes at Odessa College and UTPB in cooking, painting, drawing, and other crafts. Her passion for the arts and nature were passed on to all of her family while spending many summers in Ruidoso with them.

Mrs. Smith is survived by her sister, Mary Sue "Sudy" Craig of San Angelo; her daughters, Suellis Smith Bryant and husband James of Odessa, and Frances Smith Tillery of Odessa; her grandchildren; Shelly Brown and husband Terry of Odessa, Amy Welch of Odessa, Traci Breidenthal of Conroe, and Holly Franks and husband Jeff of Odessa; her great grandchildren; Tatem Morris and husband, Will of Stephenville, Carson Brown, Barrett Brown, Brennan Welch, Jax Welch, all of Odessa, Kelly Breidenthal of Conroe, Haley Williams of Perth, Australia, Tyler Guinn , Ellis Franks, Kelsey Tillery and Madison Tillery, all of Odessa, and her great-great-granddaughter, Ainslee Morris of Stephenville, Texas.

Mrs. Smith is preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, William Calvin "Bill" Smith, parents Maede and J Ellis Cowden, and grandson, Chris Tillery.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012, at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Lynn Money officiating.

Pallbearers are her great-grandsons, Carson Brown, Barrett Brown, Brennan Welch, Jax Welch, and Tyler Guinn. Terry Brown will also serve as pallbearer.

Many thanks to her caregivers: Ruth Knecht, Gloria Dancer, Isabell Chacon, Carmen Calzadies, and Veronica Calzadies, who were a blessing to all of us.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice or Ellen Noel Art Museum.

Services are entrusted to Hubbard Kelly Funeral Home.