Bertie Jean Smith

B.J. was born to this world as Bertie Jean Myles on November 28, 1954 in Kilgore, Texas, and after losing both her parents at a very young age she was blessed by being adopted along with her brother Bennie by Carrie Sharp Smith and James A. Smith. She has been a resident of Tyler since the late 80s when she discovered a whole new world of family and friends. She was blessed to have something that few people can claim: a birth family, an adopted family and a huge acquired family.

She was a wonderful daughter, sister, cousin and especially a friend to everyone he met. She leaves on this earth her acquired family Michael King, Trevor

Skrobinski, Darrick King and the rest of the entire King clan, along with her multitude of adoring friends, especially Cheryl Newman, Wayne Jewett, Debbie and Bruno Corley, along with cousins Merlyn Williams and Edna Sharpof Overton.

She was preceded in death by her birth and adopted parents, her brother Bennie Smith and her best friend Sherry Skrobinski.

In her youth, she was a member of Northside Baptist Church, where she played her guitar, sang in the choir and was involved in their youth ministry. After graduating from high school, B.J. took nursing courses at Kilgore College until suffering a concussion during a horseback riding incident. She was a “jack-of-all-trades” and enjoyed working as a carpenter, writer, gardener, debt collector, painter, musician, bartender, caregiver and a lover of all animals. B.J. was loved by all and will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held at Lloyd James Funeral Home on Saturday, April 29 at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either the American Heart Association or to your local ASPCA.