Roy Leverne Smith

A memorial service for Roy L. Smith, M.D., 98, of Mansfield TX, will be held at 2:00 pm, Monday, November 22, 2021, at Moore-Bowen Road Funeral Home in Arlington, with Rev. Dr. Robert Getty officiating. A private family burial service, with full military honors, will be held earlier that morning at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Dr. Smith died on October 27, 2021, at a local hospice center. He was born on August 27, 1923, in Maud OK, to Luther Smith and Taccoa Renfroe Smith. He grew up in Maud during the Depression, and often spoke of his difficult childhood. From an early age, he excelled in school, and always saw great value in his education. He skipped two grades in school, and graduated high school in Bula TX in 1940. He attended Texas Technological College in Lubbock TX while in the Army Reserves, and graduated with a B.A. in 1944. He then attended Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, graduating in 1946, after which he entered active duty in the Army as a Second Lieutenant. He spent most of his two years as a physician in Panama. He was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He then completed a general surgery internship at the Robert B. Green Hospital in San Antonio, where he met and fell in love with Doris L. Miller of Fredericksburg TX. They were married in Fredericksburg on December 20, 1951. Their first daughter, Marilyn, was born in San Antonio. He went on to complete his surgery residency at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, after which the family returned to Lubbock, where he established a successful general surgery practice at Methodist and St. Mary of the Plains hospitals. They had three more children in Lubbock--Patricia, Barry and Derek. He loved his family dearly. He was an avid supporter of their athletic and musical endeavors, and encouraged them to pursue their education. They took many great driving trips, and he served as a baseball coach and Indian Guide leader. He was an avid golfer, bowler and bridge player. He retired after 35 years of surgical practice in 1988, and moved to establish a cattle ranch with two large lakes near Quitman TX, where they lived for several years. They, their children and grandchildren recall many happy and memorable family gatherings at the ranch, fishing, hunting, and horseback riding. They later lived in Horseshoe Bay for a few years before moving to Arlington. His wife, Doris, died in 2000, after which he moved to Mansfield. More than a year later, he met Murl Robbins through a mutual friend. They became close, loving companions, and lived together for almost 20 years until his death. Survivors include his four children, Marilyn Cowan and husband, Gary, of Fort Worth; Patty Holmes and husband, Gary, of Temple TX; Barry Smith and wife, Ricki, of Galveston; and Derek Smith, of Seymour TX; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He remained very active and sharp-witted, and he and the family had a wonderful reunion to celebrate his 98th birthday just a few weeks before his stroke in October. He remained awake and alert for two more weeks, and enjoyed getting to visit with his children and many of his grandchildren before he passed. His family and friends mourn his passing, but will always remember his love, care and support.