Jerry Gettis Smith

Jerry Gettis Smith Sr. of Warsaw, Texas; known to his friends and family as Jack passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. Jack was born to Henry Harrison Smith and Vera Etoyal Chandler Smith on September 16, 1938 in Styx, Texas. Jack grew up in Kaufman County. At the age of 17 he went to work for Mosher Steel Company of Dallas and worked there until his retirement 35 years later. After retirement he remained active by mowing lawns for Mt. Olive Baptist Church and a few homes and businesses around Scurry. Jack married Shirley Marie Fortner on February 5, 1960 in Kaufman, Texas. They moved to Balch Springs where they lived for 22 years before moving back to Kaufman County, living in Scurry and then Warsaw. Jack became a member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church of Scurry at the age of 19 and remained an active member for the rest of his life. He taught the Galilean class a few years in the 1970's and was an active Deacon at the church for over 30 years. He also had served as an usher. His greatest passion in life was to witness to others and he spent countless hours in prayer. He was an inspiration to all who knew him. Before the onset of his many illnesses Jack loved to raise cattle. He also loved the outdoors, gardening, fishing and hunting and he enjoyed time spent visiting with his family. Jack is survived by his devoted wife of 51 years, Shirley Smith of Warsaw; children and their spouses, Jerry and Brenda Smith of Slidell, Louisiana, Gerry Smith of Scurry, Frankie and Julie Oliver of Peeltown, Brian and Jennifer Smith of Scurry; grandchildren, Jerry Smith III, Savannah Bentley, Zachary Smith, Cody Oliver, Matthew Smith, Dakota Oliver, Amanda Smith, Mahailey Oliver, Sierra Smith, MacKenzie Smith and Bryce Smith; great grandchild, Matthew Bentley; sister, Lid Shaw of Balch Springs, sister in law, Estelle Ewing of Kaufman, many nieces and nephews and numerous other friends and relatives. Jack was preceded in death by both parents, brothers, John and Walter Smith and sisters, Martha Bobbitt, Mary Martin and Dorothy Sherrin. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff of the late Manuel Rivero's office, Expedient Healthcare and to the Presbyterian Hospital of Kaufman for many years of loving care during his illness.