Joan Chandler Smith

Joan Chandler Smith was born on June 29, 1935, to Randolph Clark and Wilma McFarland Chandler in San Angelo, Texas. She inherited her impeccable sense of style from her school teacher mother, who often took her and her little sister, Martha Ann, shopping in Dallas, with the first stop always being Neiman Marcus. She got her fearlessness and quick wit from her father, who was a rancher.

After graduating a year early from San Angelo High School, she started an educational journey that included taking classes at Christian College, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the University of Honolulu. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She squeezed in some magnificent adventures between her studies. She visited Cuba in the 1950’s before Fidel Castro came into power, and she sailed the Pacific on the SS Lurline from San Francisco to Honolulu.

It was at S.M.U. where she met the love of her life, Ben Hardy Smith. They were married on June 6, 1957, and eventually moved to Amarillo, where they raised their three children, Randee, Ben Jr., and Tracy. Joan skillfully juggled the varied interests of her kids, carpooling Randee to her art lessons, traveling the entire Panhandle and beyond for Ben Jr.’s golf tournaments, and only occasionally forgetting to pick Tracy up from gymnastics. She was also the owner of Hunter’s Hut, a high- end gift store that carried everything from James Avery jewelry to taxidermied rattlesnakes. Speaking of rattlesnakes, at least one of the kids observed her chop off the head of one with a garden shovel in their yard. Thirty minutes later, she had changed into a St. John and was off to a cocktail party. That was Joan – fearless, fashionable, and ferocious.

Family vacations were often at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, though one of the most memorable trips was to Dallas to watch the Miami Dolphins play the Dallas Cowboys. Upon learning where the Dolphins would be staying, Joan booked a room at The Fairmont. Before you knew it, she was on the line with Don Shula getting him to agree to have the entire Miami Dolphins team sign a football they had brought. Joan also spent a lot of time with the kids at the family cabin in Ruidoso, New Mexico, where they learned to ski and fish.

After the kids were grown, Ben and Joan moved to San Antonio, where she managed King’s X Toy Soldiers in the Menger Hotel. She gathered many collector friends along the way, including Phil Collins, with whom she engaged in a rather lengthy email exchange about how and why “In the Air Tonight” gathered such a cult like following in pro wrestling. She traversed San Antonio and the Hill Country in her red convertible, her blonde hair tied up with a Pucci scarf and giant tortoise shell glasses covering her beautiful blue eyes. One of her favorite stops was Gruene Hall on a Friday afternoon.

After losing Ben to cancer in 2009, Joan found joy in keeping up with her 3 kids, 4 grandkids, and 6 great-grandkids, all of whom she loved dearly.

Anyone who knew Joan not only loved her, but adored her. She never, not even once, had an unkind word to say about anyone. At the same time, she had a biting wit with the delivery to match. Someone will need to publish a book of Joan-isms. Joan was a legendary woman. The type of person who after meeting just once, you can never forget. Whether you knew her as Joan, Ms. Joan, Mom, or Memmee, you know what we are talking about.

We take comfort in the fact this incredible woman left this earth on her own terms – peacefully at home. We also take comfort in the fact that she is wrapped in the love of those who have gone before her, including Ben, her parents, her son-in-law (George Todd), and the full breeds, mutts, and cats that she, or someone in her family, brought home – Oso, Angus, Simon, Annie, Buoniconti, Bert, Nikki, Larry Csonka and Willie Nelson.

For the many, many things Joan will be remembered for, the most important to her would be that she was kind, that kindness matters, and that no matter who you are, what you have, or what you do, you also can be kind.

Joan is survived by her sister Martha Ann Romoser; her children Randee Smith Prez and husband Dave of New Orleans, Ben Smith Jr. of San Antonio, and Tracy Smith Todd of San Francisco; her grandchildren Montana Stovall, Mikeela Stovall, Madison Prez (Will Deaton), and Lainey Todd; her great grandchildren Indigo, Malakai and Amelie Stovall, Lyla and Mabel Stovall, and Wyland Deaton-Prez; her niece and nephew Marcella Romoser-Scherer (Mark) and Scot Romoser (Rosemary); and her great nieces Laurel and Claire Romoser.

There will be a blessing of Joan’s life on Saturday, May 20, at 10 a.m., at St. George Episcopal Church, 6904 West Ave., San Antonio, Texas. The family, including Martha Ann, will be gathering to share more stories and Joan-isms after the service. Address to be provided upon request.