T. M. Smitty Smith
d. July 20, 2013
Date Died: July 20, 2013
Decatur: T. M. "Smitty" Smith, 83, a loving husband, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, and great grandfather departed this world to that of our Heavenly Father on Saturday, July 20, 2013 in Fort Worth.
Funeral is 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 24th at First Baptist Church in Boyd with Rev. Mark Autry officiating. Interment: Oaklawn Cemetery. Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home.
Pallbearers include Rob Davis, Jeff Hicks, Lyndon Hill, Bill McElroy, Mark Camper, Koby Hunt, Cody Kimbro and Tony Kimbro. Honorary Pallbearers and Fellow Deacons of First Baptist Church of Boyd include Jim Lambert, Don Herriage, Pat Berman, Emory Russell and Ernest Partin.
Smitty was born July 29, 1929 on a ranch in Swenson, Texas to Charlie and Opal Smith. He was a graduate of Aspermont High School and after receiving a Business Degree from Draughons Junior College, he worked at the Houston McCarty Ranch at Nara Visa, New Mexico.
In 1948, Smitty moved to Fort Worth to work for General Dynamics. The Fort Worth area afforded him greater opportunity to work more rodeos. During his younger days, he competed in the bareback bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, and steer wrestling events.
Upon his return in 1952 from serving his country in the U.S. Army, Smitty and Earnest McHood formed the M Bar S Ranch Rodeo Company and started furnishing roping calves for roping events, and soon thereafter began producing a weekly rodeo at Keller, Texas. After a few years they decided to go on the road, covering Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. In the middle 1950's, they bought the Duke Gibbs Triangle Bell Rodeo Stock of Belton, which gave them a top string of bucking horses and bulls. The M Bar S Ranch Rodeo had a lot of Firsts during their years: the first ever to produce a rodeo at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas other than the RCA Sponsored Circuit Rodeo, the first to produce the Keller Rodeo, the first organized rodeo in Graham, Texas, and the first organized rodeo for the General Dynamics Recreation Association Rodeo Club. Smitty helped many young cowboys get their start in all phases of rodeo competition and production. He continued to compete in roping and steer wrestling events until he retired in 1978 at the age of 48. Smitty was a founding member of the Central Rodeo Association, charter member of the International Rodeo Association and Permit member of the RCA. After selling the Rodeo Company, he began raising Registered Texas Longhorn Cattle. In 1988 at the first World Show held in Fort Worth, Texas he had the "Grand Champion" of her class. He continued to serve in the Longhorn Association and was a past President of the North Texas Longhorn Breeders Association. He retired from General Dynamics in 1990, after 41 1/2 years of service.
Smitty was an avid pilot, proudly owning a Cessna Cardinal 177 for many years. He was a member of the Rodeo Cowboy Alumni, the Rodeo 50 Club, the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association, the Cowboy Gathering Association, and a former member of the U. S. Civil Air Patrol. Smitty was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2004 in Belton, Texas. He has attended Rodeo Reunions from the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's. His passions were farming, cattle, rodeo, and flying.
Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Jean Smith of Decatur; three sons, Charles Huston and wife Janet of Fort Worth, Terry Huston and wife Susan of Fort Worth, Don Brown and wife Shannon of Sonora, Texas; sister, Doris Dillard and husband Elmer of Buffalo Gap, Texas; six grandchildren, Eric Huston, Jessica Corley, Cristen Martin, Jordan Huston, Collin Brown, and Carly Brown; and seven great-grandchildren; other family members and a host of friends.
Smitty was preceded in death by wife of 22 years Patsy Smith, his parents, his sister Camilla "Lady" Pittcock of Aspermont, and brother W. L. "Dub" Smith of Aspermont.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Boyd, 140 N. FM 730, P.O. Box 336, Boyd, TX 76023 or the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America, P.O. Box 4430, Fort Worth, TX 76164.
Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home, Decatur, Texas, 940/627-5959
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Jean, we are so sorry to hear of Smitty's passing.We know that this is a very difficult time for you and the family,but with God's help,you'll get through it.
Our blessings and prayers are with you.
John T and Betty Baker
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Sorry we couldn't be there.
Love and prayers,
Lee and Betty Mullins
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Jean, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.
I always remember Mr. TM Smitty, at the Longhorn TLBAA events.
My blessing are with you and the family.
Lanelle Bell
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