Sammy Joe Smith

Sammy Joe Smith, 31, of Runaway Bay passed away July 25, 2016.  He was born April 30, 1985 in Houston, Texas. Sammy was a maintenance man at his family’s business, Chico Limestone, Inc.

Funeral is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport with burial in Chico Cemetery. Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Monday at Hawkins Funeral Home.

Randy James will officiate. Pallbearers include Juan Cardenas, Rick Conally, Amon Cox, Jason Cox, Alan Creighton, Korey Keel, Colby Loper, Jason Manning, Jake Mclean, Derrick Mowery, Allen O’Kief, and Ben Richey.

He was preceded in death by his father, Sammy Smith; his grandparents, Elmer Cox, Helen Smith, Bob Manning, Billy Manning, Valton Thomas and "Drifter".

Sammy loved being outdoors. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, and grilling outside. He excelled as an athlete playing football, basketball, baseball and running track in high school. He also played baseball and football at Hardin Simmons University. As much as Sammy loved to participate in sports, he found his true passion coaching his children’s teams. He coached Taegan’s T-ball team and Talon’s baseball and basketball teams. He often reffed baseball games for other teams and volunteered many hours maintaining the little league field at Jewel Park in Chico. He was planning to return to college to pursue a career in coaching. He and his brother Steven had planned to coach Chico Pee Wee football this fall. To honor Sammy’s kind and giving nature, his family chose organ donation to help others. Because of Sammy’s precious gift three lives were saved on July 27, including a 13 year old child.

He leaves behind his two children, Talon Fredrick Smith, age 7, Taegan Faith Smith, age 5, and their mother, Ashley Davidson. Sammy is survived by his parents, Gina Richards and husband Chris of Idaho, Tammy Smith of Houston and Van and Sheila Cox of Chico, Texas; his brother, Steven Cox and wife Breann of Chico; his sister, Andi Jones and husband Nick of Decatur; his brother, Perry Beard of Chico; sister-in-law, Christie Beard of Chico; his sister, Chasity Richardson and her husband Ryan of Shepard, Texas, his sister, Krystina Holden and her husband Kole of Kingwood, Texas; his sister Lexi Smith of Houston; his grandparents, Lot and Nora Hood of Chico, June Cox of Bowie, and Joann Thomas of Houston; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of friends that stretches from Chico to Houston, including his 2 best friends and roommates, Jeremy and Jessica Tiller.