Cleo Mae Smith

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Cleo passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2013 in Tyler.

Cleo was born near Natchitoches, La. on June 21, 1920. She married Joe A. Smith on April 9, 1945 in New Orleans, La. while Joe was on shore leave during his enlistment with the United States Navy. Joe and Cleo had a whirlwind romance of two weeks and were married for 68 years.

Among her survivors are her daughters and their husbands: Mary Ellen and Billie R. Cook of Smithfield, Virginia, Pat and Tom Lemke of Pearland, Texas, Joe Ann Burton of The Woodlands, Texas and Pam and Bill Johnson of Tyler. Eleven Grandchildren: Skipp Cook, Steven Cook, Mike Cook, Chris Cook, Laurie Moffatt, David Brossette, Thad Whisenant, Ted Whisenant, Karen Hughes, Alison Pratka and Kelly Johnson; numerous great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe A. Smith, her parents Frank, Sr. and Mary Jones Johnson, brother Frank Johnson, Jr. sister, Willie D. Gobert and granddaughter Julie Brossette Payne. She was a member of The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and was active in several different organizations within the church over the years. The family wishes to thank Colonial Tyler Care Center for the loving care they provided to her and The Hospice of East Texas.