John Evan Smith Sr.

Service: 2 pm Friday January 2, 2015 at DFW National Cemetery in Dallas. Visitation is 9-11 am at Laurel Land Funeral Home in Fort Worth.

John was born in June 1922 to Brooks and Gertrude Smith in Magnolia, Arkansas, the second of three sons. He was a resident of Shreveport, Louisiana for 65 years.

John served in the US Army during WWII as a forward observer for the 1st Calvary Division in the South Pacific Theater. He was awarded two Bronze Stars, first for meritorious achievement in operations at Admiralty Islands, and second for heroic achievement in his service as forward observer at Leyte Provence, Philippines.

Upon returning home he married his sweetheart Marceal Jones and went to work for Southern Bell where he retired after forty years. John served as a Deacon at Parkview Baptist Church where he and Marcel began a Sunday School Ministry at The Shriner's Hospital in Shreveport.

He is preceded in death by wife Marceal Smith, second wife, Alphonse Smith, and son John Smith Jr.

Survivors include: daughter, Nancy Whitson, daughter-in-law, Lora Grounds Smith, grandchildren, Scott (Kim) Oxford, Stephanie (Bob) Kimball, Casey (Liz) Oxford, Cinnamon (Trip) House, Rachel Smith, Alexandra (David) Falksen, six great grandchildren, one great great grandchild, brothers, Jim Smith & Brooks (Margaret) Smith, the family of Alphonse Smith, numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and dear friends.