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Clifton John Smith Sr.
Clifton John Smith Sr., 82, John to his friends, went to be with the Lord the night of October 20, 2009. He is now reunited with the love of his life, Lou Edith, after being on earth almost four years without her. They shared 53 wonderful years together before her passing.
John was born in Brawley, California on July 23, 1927. His family soon moved to Clarendon, in the Panhandle of Texas, where he grew up on the family farm. He was raised in the cotton and hay fields, learning how to be a hand worker. He volunteered for military service in World War II, where he served as a telephone and telegraph lineman in the 463rd Signal Construction Battalion on Okinawa. He received an honorable discharge on January 19, 1947.
While working for an oil exploration company, he happened upon his future wife in the “boondocks” of West Texas, north of Pumpville, on the Andy White ranch. Up until that time, he sworn he was never going to get married. Turned out that he was wrong. He married his sweetheart in 1953.
After working and traveling with one child and wife, John decided to make a permanent home in Del Rio. He went to work for the Texas Department of Transportation. He and Lou proceeded to have three more children. John dedicated 35 years of service to the department. During that time, he received numerous awards for excellence of service.
John loved to fish and hunt. He taught his skills to many boys as a Scout leader. In his retirement, he enjoyed his grandchildren. He also helped run his father-in-laws’ ranches up until the time that he was no longer able to do so. John was preceded in death by his father: Clifton Smith; mother Nora J. Helm; step-father Jimmy Helm; brother O.A. Smith; and sisters Beatrice Smith and Wilma Bible. His dear wife, Lou Edith, preceded him in death on February 2006.
He is survived by his daughter: Andra Scott and her husband Mike of Del Rio; sons: Norman Smith and his wife Kathy of Brady, Rodger Smith and his wife Teresa of Blooming Grove and Clifton John Smith Jr., (C.J.) and his wife Nicole of Houston. John is also survived by his grandchildren: Alvin Askins, Aaron Askins, Ranee Smith, Samantha Stephenson and her husband Robert, William Wesley Smith, Dayton Scott, Kaley Scott, Amanda Smith, Brandy Deschaume and her husband Halbert, Barbie Smith, and Johnnetta Smith; ten great-grandchildren: Marcey Sarabia, Joseph Sarabia, Khristian Johnson, Kourtney Johnson, Jon Deschaume, Aaron Deschaume, Notan Bain, Sarabeth Bain, Realyn Bain and Cheyenne Fitzgerald.
Pallbearers are Carl Wade, Raymond Quigg, John Sills, Vicente Cantu, Alvin Askins, Aaron Askins, Dayton Scott and Jimmy Ramirez.
Visitations will be Friday, 6-9:00P.M, October 23, 2009 at G. W. Cox Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Chapel service will be Saturday, 2:00P.M, October 24, 2009 followed with interment at Sunset Memorial Oaks Cemetery. Officiating will be Brother Bob Johnson. Military Honors provided by Fort Sam Houston.
Funeral arrangements with G. W. Cox Memorial Funeral Home, of Del Rio LTD, 114 Fletcher Drive, Del Rio, Texas. 78840 Ph: 830.775.2000
Published October 23, 2009
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