Mary Louise Anderson Smith

Mary Louise Anderson Smith Mary Louise Anderson Smith, a resident of Round Rock, Texas, died on March 25, 2004 at the age of 77. Mrs. Smith was born in Houston in 1926, the daughter of James S. Anderson, a civil engineer, and Mary Lois Nelson. She was a fifth-generation Texan, a descendant of a family that came to Nacogdoches in the 1820’s. Mrs. Smith moved to Austin in 1935 when her father was hired to oversee construction of Mansfield and Buchanan Dams. Since her father and brother, Art Anderson, both worked at the LCRA offices, she often saw Lyndon Johnson drop by to review construction progress and talk about upcoming political campaigns. Mrs. Smith graduated from Austin High School in 1943 and from Texas State College for Women (now Texas Women’s University) in 1947. She worked as a child welfare social worker in the Valley, then spent two years living in San Juan, Puerto Rico with her family. Upon returning to the states, Mrs. Smith served for three years as program director for the YWCA in downtown Fort Worth. In 1954, she moved to Austin to work for the Lone Star Council of the Girl Scouts. She oversaw a 33-county region, recruiting scoutmasters and board members, running camps and overseeing special projects, including an international fair that was one of the big events at the new Palmer Auditorium. Mrs. Smith was especially proud that in an era of strict segregation, she successfully integrated the camps and social activities at both the YWCA and the Girl Scouts. In 1958, Mrs. Smith married Dr. Leon R. Smith, Jr., a professor of music from Rising Star, Texas. They met while singing in the choir at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Austin. Their son, Ross A. Smith, was born in 1959 in Texarkana, where Dr. Smith had his first teaching job. They later moved to Bloomington, Indiana for graduate school, then to Johnson City and Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1970, Dr. Smith accepted an appointment on the music faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Mrs. Smith worked as periodicals librarian at the university library. They came home to Texas upon his retirement in 1994 and settled in Round Rock. Mrs. Smith enjoyed researching her family history and was a gifted storyteller. In retirement, she was active in many organizations, including the Colonial Dames, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Huegonot Society and the Magna Carta Society. She was also an active member of St. Elizabeth’s Guild at St. David’s. Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Arthur G. Anderson and his wife Mary, brother James F. Anderson and his wife Sherie, and nephew Arthur Anderson. She is survived by her husband Leon of Round Rock, son Ross of Austin, sister Bea Carmichael of Uvalde and her husband Alan, and by numerous nieces and nephews. Mary Louise came from a hardy pioneer family, but had an elegance that bespoke her aristocratic Southern roots and Scottish heritage. She had a soft accent that was unmistakably Texan. She was a solid Democrat who loved politics, and was unafraid to speak her mind. She was also a lifelong Episcopalian, firm in her faith. Mary Louise was well loved by her family and friends, and will be greatly missed. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, March 28, 2004 at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 304 E. 7th St., with the Reverend Ronald Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Austin Memorial Park. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78705 (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at wcfish.com