James E. Smith Jr

He was born on June 25, 1927 in Ft. Worth, TX, where he was the oldest of three children of a Banker and a progressive, working mother. Smith told vivid stories of growing up in the depression-era and of how his father opened their home to other family members who had fallen on hard times. It was through this filter that he learned the importance of family and that perseverance and hard work were the keys to success.

Soon after graduating high school, Smith joined the US Navy during WWII. After his service to his country, Smith attended Texas A&M. He left A&M to join Gulf Oil and started his career as a Texas oil man. Ever the negotiator, he found his career niche as a Petroleum Landman in 1955. He worked for Forest Oil Corp until his retirement in 1981. However, retirement didn’t sit well with Smith, so he branched out on his own in 1981 as an Independent Petroleum Landman until 2007. He was a long standing member of the American Association of Petroleum Landmen (AAPL).

Ever the hard-working man, he certainly didn’t believe in all work and no play. Smith, much to his children’s Christmas-card-photo-ops-in-July chagrin, was a creative and skilled photographer, and had his photographs hanging in galleries in the Southeast. He was also a hunter of geese and duck, with annual trips to Canada and Panther Swamp, but his passion was fly fishing. The pursuit of his passion took him all over the Northwestern U.S., Alaska, and New Zealand. Smith was also an imaginative story teller and was able to expound, at length, on the differences between the bites of the crocodile and alligator.

Although he would never openly admit to it, Smith had a heart as big as the state in which he was born. Every December would find him with his snow-white hair and beard grown out and him donning his Santa suit for ‘personal appearances’ at schools, nursing homes, various children's homes and Christmas parties, as well as the occasional one-on-one at the grocery store or gas station. He was also a man of faith and supported his community as an ordained Baptist deacon, Sunday school teacher, Thirty-Second Degree Mason, 50+ year member of Fort Worth Lodge #148 of the Grand Lodge of Texas, Past Patron of Clinton Chapter #344 Order of the Eastern Star, Rainbow Dad for Clinton Assembly #65 International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, and a former member of the Lions Club of Clinton.

He is preceded in death by father James E. Smith, Sr., mother Hazel Newman Smith, wife of 16 years Lulie Franklin Smith and grandson James E. Smith, IV (JES). Smith is survived by his wife of 39 years Barbara P. Smith (Bobbie); daughter Kelly Smith of Montgomery, AL; son James E. Smith, III and his wife Gina of Madison MS; daughters Nancy Lee Womack of Pineville, LA; Lori Womack of Clinton, MS and daughter Amy Womack Hines of San Diego, CA; daughter of our hearts Deborah Beckenbaugh Welch of Jackson,MS; grandchildren Meagan Smith, Morgan Womack, Kasey Hines Cordell, CJ Hines and Taylor Hines; and great-grandson Joseph Connor Cordell; brother Charles T. Smith and his wife Ellen, of Pueblo, CO; niece Victoria Atamer and her husband Mehmet of London, England; sister Kay Lee Smith Smith and her husband Hugh of Burleson, TX; nephews Mike Smith and his wife Teri of Grass Valley, CA, Gary Smith and his wife Leigh of Trumbull, CT, Eddie Smith of Burleson, TX and niece Diana Smith of Fort Worth, TX.

Visitation will be from 1:00 – 3:00 pm Saturday December 3, 2011 at Wright & Ferguson, 106 Cynthia Dr. in Clinton, MS. The funeral service will immediately follow. The graveside service and burial will be at 2:30 pm on Monday December 5, 2011, at the Biloxi National Cemetery located at 400 Veterans Avenue in Biloxi, MS.

Memorials have been established in the name of James E. Smith, Jr., at both Bovina United Methodist Church 227 Turnerville Rd. Vicksburg, MS 39183 and Edwards United Methodist Church P.O. Box 246 Edwards, MS 39066.

Online guestbook www.wrightferguson.com