Juanita Gilbert

She was born March 26, 1923 to Nelson & Jewell (Blanton) Smelser in Goodnight, Texas. The family moved to Odessa in 1928 when Nelson was engaged to work for the Post Office.

Juanita attended elementary school in the red sandstone building and graduated from Odessa High School in 1941. She worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for 10 years and married Ragon Gilbert in May 1945.

In 1960, she went to work for St. Luke’s Methodist Church as the church secretary. Juanita was consecrated as a Church Business Administrator by Bishop Alsie H. Carlton at the New Mexico annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in May 1978. She retired in March 1988 and spent the rest of her life loving her family and volunteering for her church.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Onita Hovey (her twin) and Stella Fay Smelser.

She is survived by her sons Ragon, Jr. and wife Melody, David and wife Vicki, and Douglas all of Odessa. A daughter Ethel Fay Nortman of Gainesville, TX. Three step-daughters- Jackie and Ken Scott of Atlantic, TX, Lela and Jim Spencer of Lubbock, TX, and Pat and Nick Hivey of Channon IL. Seven grandchildren; Jerry Don and Christopher Tucker, Marcie McDonald, Landry and Chase Gilbert, Kesslie Williams, Tobi Mendenhall, and ten great-grandchildren. Two sister Della Baker of Arlington, TX and Grace Laman of Dunnville, KY.

A Memorial Service will be held on March 24, 2018, 10:30 a.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church, in Odessa, TX with Rev. Russell Nebhut officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions to any Methodist Children’s Home would be appreciated.