Gertrude Jackson Smither

The Rev. Gertrude “Trudie” Smither was born in Dallas on October 6, 1937, and died peacefully on October 19, 2016, in Dallas. A fourth-generation Dallasite, Trudie clearly lived by her three most important values: her family, her dedication to God and the priesthood, and her heritage and community. We remember her gentle nature, joyful spirit, independence, and deep love for all her family and friends. All these qualities were captured in how she always cherished offering a prayer and blessing with someone after spending time with them.

Trudie loved her family. She was a treasured mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. Her favorite retreat was her family home in Brushy Creek in Anderson County, where her family first settled in Texas in 1849. She took great pride in how many ancestors were pioneers in the founding of Dallas and that her great-grandfather Capt. William Henry Gaston donated 80 acres for the State Fair of Texas. Trudie met the love of her life, Bob Smither, while on a college trip to Europe, and their first date was in Monte Carlo. After graduating from the University of Texas together, they married in 1960 and began their own family shortly after. They enjoyed 37 years of marriage until his death in 1997. She reveled in the times her family gathered for birthdays, holidays, long meals, and vacations all over the United States; and as a devoted grandmother, she attended countless performances, athletic contests, school events, Grandparents’ Days, and more. She also enjoyed using her season tickets to take her family and friends to cheer on her beloved Dallas Cowboys. Working crossword puzzles and studying Spanish as well as cuddling with her cats, Lucy and Otis, gave her great pleasure.

In 1991 Trudie became one of the first women ordained as an Episcopal priest in Texas. As she explained, “I believe that God was calling me to the priesthood. I felt I had been blessed in my life and wanted to pass it on to many people.” At that time women faced real challenges in pursuing this path. Determined to do God’s work and a champion of women’s rights, she persevered through several setbacks, first becoming a deacon in 1990. Her journey began with the spiritual work she did while her family lived in Galveston, Texas for 24 years. While there, Mother Trudie served as an Assistant at the Church of St. Luke the Physician, Chaplain of the William Temple Foundation, President of St. Vincent’s Episcopal House, Christian Education Director at Trinity Episcopal Church, and Chaplain of Galveston UT Medical Branch. After the family returned to Dallas in 1992, she launched the Episcopal chaplaincy program for the Diocese of Dallas. While overseeing that program, Trudie served as Assistant to the Dean at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, Assistant Rector and then Interim Rector at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, and Associate Rector at Ascension Dallas. She loved being the chaplain at St. Christopher’s Montessori School, where she introduced the Godly Play program. She represented the Diocese of Dallas on the Episcopal Church’s Standing Commission on Health. Countless people have expressed their gratitude for the pastoral role Mother Trudie played in their lives. She remained steadfast in her commitment to live as a faithful servant to God.

Trudie’s community involvement extended beyond her priesthood. She was a vigorous learner and advocate and believed firmly in positively impacting the people and places where she lived. Her energy and curiosity motivated her to become involved and volunteer with many organizations: Friends of the Dallas Public Library; Board of Thanks-Giving Square; Fellow of the Dallas Historical Society; fourth-generation member of Dallas Women’s Club; Dallas Country Club; Colonial Dames; Consultant to St. Vincent’s Episcopal House (Galveston); President of The Junior League of Galveston County; Dallas Shakespeare Club; Pi Beta Phi; and treasurer for the Highland Park High School Class of 1955.

After attending Bradfield Elementary and The Hockaday School, she graduated from Highland Park High School in 1955. She attended Sweet Briar College for two years before transferring to the University of Texas-Austin, earning a B.A. in History in 1959. In 1985 she completed her Master of Divinity from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Bush Smither, Jr.; her parents Sallie Bell and John N. Jackson; her aunt Gertrude F. Gaston; her parents-in-law Robert Bush and Ruth Smither; her brother-in-law John H. Smither and his wife Stephanie Smither; and brother-in-law Wilbur L. Smither. Surviving family includes her children Robert Bush Smither, III; Sallie Smither Crotty, her husband Mark Crotty, and their children Kate and Stephen; John Smither and his wife Lauren Waddell and his son Cole Smither; and Mary Kate Smither Jeffries and her husband Stephen Jeffries; her sister Sallie Bell Jackson Loop and her husband Nowell; and sister-in-law Martha Smither. Nephews and nieces are Charles Loop, his wife Lian, and their children; Ginny Loop Mahl, her husband Kevin, and their children; Ashley Smither Langley, her husband Curt, and their children; Paige Smither Johnson, her husband Todd, and their children; and John Kerr Smither and his son.

The family thanks the staff at Silverado Turtle Creek and Faith Presbyterian Hospice for the care and love they showed Trudie.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to an educational institution important to your life, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, or the Dallas Historical Society.

Trudie Smither’s life will be celebrated in a service at St Matthew’s Cathedral, 5100 Ross Avenue in Dallas, at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 28, the Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton officiating. All are invited to visitation with the family at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home on Thursday, Oct. 28, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.