Clifford Bud Glen Smith

C. G. “Bud” Smith passed away peacefully at a Waco, Texas hospital, Sunday, May 18, 2014.

His life will be celebrated at 2:00 pm Saturday, May 24, 2014 at the Cole Funeral Home in McGregor, Texas and again later this summer when we take Daddy home. More information on the South Dakota memorial service will be published at a later date.

Bud was born October 23, 1930 in Rapid City, South Dakota to Ethel Johanna (Markhus) and Clinton Clifford Smith, I. As Bud wished, he was cremated and will be interred at Pine Lawn Memorial Cemetery in South Dakota with his parents and brother.

Bud graduated from Rapid City High School, attended Business College, worked, married and began to raise his large family in Rapid City.

Bud and wife Shirley, along with their 3 youngest children, moved to the Waco, Texas area in 1967 to further his career in road construction. Bud spent many years paving the highways in the State of Texas for Young Brothers Construction.

In the early 1980s, Bud transferred to and eventually retired in Bryan, Texas. He spent much of his early retirement driving around Texas, photographing all 254 County Courthouses. That was one of his many retirement hobbies. He had even begun to photograph County Courthouses in surrounding states when he ran out of Texas counties.

Always up for a celebration, Bud returned to South Dakota to attend every Cobbler Class of 1948 High School reunion – including the 50th – until his health prevented further travel. Bud loved to travel and it wasn't unusual for his little red pickup to show up in South Dakota so he could stay for extended periods with his daughters and grandchildren. Bud had life-long friends in South Dakota including Manuel Torres, Elmer Baumiller, and many others.

Bud loved life and was a wonderful dancer, a trait that was never more evident than when he and Shirley were out on the dance floor! He had an irreverent sense of humor and was able to turn most situations into an opportunity for laughter. Bud had opinions on many things and loved a good debate. You didn't have to be somewhere long before you realized "Bud Smith was in the house!"

If there ever was a definition of Patriarch - it would have had a picture of Bud Smith next to it. Having lost both of his parents by the age of 42, he assumed the role early in life. His children and grandchildren – as did most who knew him - loved and adored him. After many years of being apart, the highlight of our lives was when our mother Shirley began spending time with our Daddy at Westview Manor. Their last visit occurred on what would have been their 61st wedding anniversary. It makes our hearts so happy to know they were together near the end of their lives and are together again today - dancing in heaven! Waltz Across Heaven, Mother and Daddy!

Bud was preceded in death by his parents, the Mother of his children, high-school sweetheart and first wife, Shirley Jean Hall Smith Adams, second wife, Dorothy Richards Smith, brother, Larry Gene Smith, uncle, Dick Smith, nephew, Corey Clinton Smith, infant great-grandson, Waylon Michael Wendelboe and cousin, Gerald Munson.

Bud leaves to treasure his memory: daughters, Pam and husband Roger Evans, Vicky and husband Gil Gray, all of Rapid City, SD, Cindy and husband Randy Passmore of Lorena, TX, Sandee Mack and partner Dan “Smokey” Buckner, of Sturgis, SD; son Ernie Smith and wife Barbara of Eddy, TX; Grandchildren Gina and husband Larry Thomsen, Teri Ann and husband Ken Bertelsen, Tracey Gray, Tiffany and husband Josh Phelps, James Mack and wife Katie, Colin Mack and wife Krista, Bethany Mack, all of Rapid City, SD, Shirley GoodShield of Bowman, ND, Jenny and husband Mike Stevens of Hulett, WY, Sara Peterson and husband Doug Schoenfelder of Sioux Falls, SD, Clinton Clifford Smith, II and wife Dana of Buda, TX and Justin Smith and partner Criselda Ayala of Austin, Texas; 20 great-granddaughters, 6 great-grandsons, 1 great-great-granddaughter, 3 nieces,1 nephew and 3 cousins plus many from the blended families of his loved ones.

For those desiring, donations to The Alzheimer's Association or the charity of choice may be made in Bud’s memory.

Arrangements under the direction of Cole Funeral Home, McGregor, TX.