Lee Roy Smith

Services for Lee Roy “Tood” Smith, 87, of Wells, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 12, 2015 in the First Baptist Church of Wells with Bro. Josh Luellen officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Wells.

Mr. Smith was born February 15, 1928 in Wells, Texas, the son of the late Vera (Bailey) and Lonnie Smith. He passed away May 9, 2015 in a local hospital.

He graduated from Wells High School in 1945 as Valedictorian and attended Pineywood Business College. He was a master carpenter, having learned the trade from his father at the age of 12. Mr. Smith had a green thumb and could grow almost anything. He enjoyed raising a large garden and sharing the vegetables with family, friends and neighbors, especially the widows. A favorite pastime was raising livestock. He proudly served in the United States Navy during World War II and served on the Island of Guam for 18 months. Mr. Smith served in the combat aircraft service unit, fighter group #12 in the South Pacific as a carpenter’s mate, third class. He retired from Southern Pacific Railroad after 36 years of employment. He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Wells and was known as “the candy man” by the children at church.

Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Sue Smith of Wells; son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Debbie Smith of Wells; daughter, Susie Johnson of Wells; 11 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; step-daughters and step-son-in-law, Tina O’Quinn of Montana and Deann and Eddie Rienhardt of Tyler; one step-granddaughter; brother and sister-in-law, Lewis and Sue Smith of Wells; two sisters, Syble Parnell of Channelview and Pat Glenn of Nacogdoches; and numerous nieces and nephews and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Roy Thomas Smith; and brothers, Buck Smith and Billy Tom Smith.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday evening at Gipson Funeral Home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.