I didn't have the pleasure of knowing Elaine.  I am fortunate, though, to count her sister Kathy Courtland as a friend.  Kathy has shared so much with me about Elaine that I wish I had been able to meet her.  My sympathy and my prayers are with the family.

I had the pleasure of serving on the Galveston County CPS Board with Elaine. What a wonderful person.  Our prayers are with the family.

Elaine was a remarkable lady.  She kept going when any of several of her ailments would have been a reason to give up caring about others, what was happening in the world or how she looked.  It wasn't in Elaine to give up.  Getting to know Elaine and Ben through Central United Methodist Church in Albuquerque was a wonderful experience.  We loved them both.  Our sympathy to all the family in this time of sadness and loss.  They were very proud of each of you.

Elaine was a very special person. She came to see me play basketball in the National Senior Olympics in Houston. Ben and Elaine were wonderful people. My husband and I enjoyed their friendship in the Harmony Class at Central Methodist in Albuquerque.

Our heavy hearts are lifted by the kind words and care of friends & extended family.  More about sis: she married Ben Smith her 9th grade sweetheart while he finished at Baylir Med. His career as a well known Dermatologist took them all over the world where he was invited to speak at Medical Meetings & even once on the Today Show. She loved entertaining for the church & her charities in their lovely 1895 Victorian home on Ave O in Galveston while Ben was 20+ year Chairman of his Department at UTMB. She served on many boards & charities including Moody Methofist and St Paul's Methodist here in Houston. She returned home to Houston from Albuquerque where they had semiretired after Ben's death (married 51 years). Each of us enjoyed living within a mile of our Mother's retirement home till Mom died at age 99. I tried but did not succeed in spoiling Elaine with attention like she did for our Mom the last decade of Mom's life. Sis always enjoyed looking pretty, even after 2 strokes left her only with use of 1 arm, in a wheelchair. She got her hair fixed twice a week & kept Chicos in business. Elaine & her husband welcomed me into their home every summer vacation, even one summer in London, their daughters Sheri & Robin were like little sisters.  Elaine offered me a lot of support especially after our Dad died when I was only 9. She loved her church and she and Ben were very active at Moody Methodist in Galveston and she has enjoyed St Paul's Methodist the ten years she has been back in Houston. This is the church of Ben's family as he grew up. Elaine & Ben invited our Mom to accompany them on many international trips, even to Australia when Mom was 89. What a special son in law he was! In recent years, Elaine still went to church most Sundays and treated her caregivers to lunch several times a week, even as her health declined. She never drank or smoked, always a proper southern lady. Heaven is now a little brighter with her smile.

OBITUARY

Frances Elaine Newton Smith

September 28, 1932 – February 22, 2015

Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home & Forest Park Lawndale

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