Albert Roy Smith Jr.

Albert Roy Smith, Jr., affectionately known as A.R. passed peacefully into Heaven September 11, 2023 at 2:29 p.m.

A.R. was the firstborn of Albert, Sr. and Flora. He was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. Attended Polytechnic High School, graduating class of 1952. He was a very popular, all American kind of boy with lots of friends. And from the contents of an old cigar box he was apparently quite popular with the ladies too.

He attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas for a short period of time. He chose to leave college and return to Fort Worth to work for Swift in the meat processing industry.

He was drafted into the United States Navy on December 7, 1955. And as he described it, he was deployed one time to sunny California. He served in an administrative role for 21 months creating badges for service members, civilian employees and visitors. This kind of job suited him well as he was a people person, always interested in the lives of others.

He was honorably discharged from the Navy in September 1957 and returned home to Fort Worth, Texas where he began working once more in a civilian capacity.

Although A.R. never considered himself the most educated man, he was smart and witty. Kind and gracious. He was never without a humorous anecdote. He was a man’s man through and through. A true sports fan, especially anything involving the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers. He enjoyed the Sunday comic strips. And although he never missed an opportunity to tell a joke, he was pretty terrible at telling them, especially if it hit his own funny bone before he got to the punch line. His laughter was infectious and embedded deep in our hearts.

His favorite movies were The Pink Panther series (the Peter Sellers version), McLintock, Christmas Vacation, which he watched religiously every year. His favorite comic was Calvin and Hobbes. His favorite foods were biscuits and gravy, chicken fried steak and any kind of cookie. He never ate eggs “unless they were baked in a cookie or a cake.” And he lived by the principle that calories eaten over the sink do not count.

Even though he certainly never saw himself as a hero, he quickly became a hero to a single mother and her children. He married Lucy Richardson McLaughlin on December 8, 1978 in Fort Worth, Texas. And instantly became a dad to Shawna, Jeff and their older brother, Alan.

As a husband he lovingly supported Lucy’s every magical whim or dream. Never asking her to conform to him or the ideals of what a wife was to be. He believed in her implicitly and never denied her his absolute devotion. He simply loved her to his core and knew she was the MOST at everything she did. She was his “Scrubby” always.

Jokingly he used to quote 1 Peter 3:6 to Lucy; “Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord”…and although she never obeyed calling him lord, she did lovingly refer to him as Lard Albert. They will forever be Lard Albert and Scrubby to us.

As a father, he was the BEST. He brought much needed discipline and structure to our family. He was honoring towards our mother and a leader we, as children, so longed for. He was funny beyond measure. Always down for a good prank or joke. He would “hide” in plain sight, the cooking sheets in the dishwasher just to watch us search the house for non-existent cookies. He was perfectly amazing every single day. And he cheated at the game of Twister.

A.R. was a man whose first job began when he was just 12 years old. His father became ill and his mother sent him to work in his dad’s place. He ran a cash register, filled orders and balanced the till at the end of the day for a local ice house until his dad was able to return. It’s no wonder that A.R. had a strong desire to work.

He spent a number of years at Fort Worth Pipe and Supply as a buyer until his retirement in the mid-80s. And then went on to work at Lone Star Steel as an inside sales rep for the line pipe division. Often a frustrating position, his personality was perfect for the role. He was well liked by his co-workers and customers. And he was always down for free cookie day at the local lunch stop.

Upon retiring, he started work as a cart driver at DFW Airport. This allowed him to utilize his mad driving skills and most assuredly his harsh braking skills while transporting people from one terminal to another. He enjoyed this job immensely because of the variety of people he was able to meet every day. He once told a professional baseball player with a bad knee to lose some weight before he came back through the airport so he would be easier to push in the wheelchair. He also did not mince words.

He retired once more and within months he found himself working at the Water Fountain Store in Bedford, Texas. This little job was a lifeline to him, keeping him in a position to meet and interact with others on a daily basis. He enjoyed being productive and earning his own wages. He loved this job very much and upon retiring, missed it every day.

His beloved Lucy passed February 6, 2022 and although losing her broke his heart, he continued to work until May 2023 finally retiring at the ripe age of 89 years young.

Having spent nearly every single day together since Lucy’s passing Shawna and A.R. began the most adventurous journey ever. It started small with just the daily errand running and cookie tasting and progressed quickly into a grand affection for Cheesecake Factory and cheesecake. One photograph with Santa at Cabelas quickly became three encounters with three different Santas, and he gladly, joyfully posed with each one. There are many cherished moments, too many to share here.

Early in 2023, his balance and mobility began to impact his ability to work and drive. Once he retired in May, A.R. and Shawna embarked on a mission to discover why his mobility was declining. Several doctor visits later, A.R. was admitted to Baylor Grapevine where he was given the diagnosis of ALS.

Cognizant until the end, upon hearing the diagnosis his response was, “Hmmm, I never really played baseball.” And then the very next day, “Well, everyone has to die of something.” Never short on a joke or a light hearted response, he knew he was terminal. And he knew he would be leaving the hospital dying. Instead of grieving what was coming, A.R. chose to look beyond the cruelty of disease to the glorious healing he would know.

ALS took his legs.

ALS took his arms.

ALS took the mobility of his neck.

BUT ALS never took his mind.

He used the one organ he had complete control over to share Jesus with every person he met. No one was exempt. Nurses, doctors, even the Chaplain who visited listened as he passionately wept describing how he would soon see Jesus, But he didn’t finish there. It was important to him to know that they would see Jesus too.

This man, who never thought of himself as a hero, was VERY MUCH a hero.

He was a hero to his birth family.

He was a hero to his nephews and niece.

He was a hero to his wife.

He was a hero to his children.

And he was a hero of the faith to the very end.

And on September 11, 2023 at 2:29 p.m. he was greeted in Heaven with a “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

A.R. was preceded in death by his father, Albert, Sr., his mother Flora, his brother Donald and his wife, Lucy. He leaves behind a beloved sister, Dolores Carr. Three nephews, one niece and their beautiful families. Three adult children, Alan McLaughlin, Shawna Rollins (Tim), and Jeff McLaughlin (Launa). Eight adult grandchildren, most notably Marshall McWhirter (Mallory) and Zach Rollins (Kelsie). Nine great grandchildren including the apples of his eye, Brinlee (9), Jett (3) and Jade (1).

Forever a hero to us.