Edward Lamar Smith, Jr.

Edward Smith, Jr joined his beloved mother, father, sister, and brother on July 29, 2021 after a hard fought two year battle with cancer. Ed worked for Kelly Springfield for 40 years. He was so determined to get a job at Kelly that he would show up every day at the plant asking for a job. He made so many friends over the 40 years. It took the plant closing to get him to even contemplate retiring. Even after retirement, he found odds and ends jobs to stay busy. It took cancer treatments to slow him down enough to stop working.

Ed was the kind of person that never met a stranger. There were many times we would be in public and he would just start up a conversation with anyone around. He even had the ability to say sarcastic remarks to someone and before the conversation was over they would be agreeing with him.

Ed was an avid hunter and fisherman. He made many lifetime friends on the various deer leases he was on. He could always find something to hunt or catch and some where to find what he was looking for, no matter the season. He would always help anyone with any issue as long as you would accept his criticism and opinion about of how you should be living your life. He would always figure out how to fix anything. I have never heard him say I don’t know or I can’t. If he had an issue with anything he would figure it out. The week before he went into the hospital he was out mowing his yard. He finally had to quit when the mower broke. He told his wife after my chemo treatment I will load that mower up and get it fixed.

The last 12 years he had the great joy of being a grandpa to Roman. Every time I would call to check on him, he would tell me about all the things he and Roman had done. It is so wonderful that he had the opportunity to spend time with Roman and teach him life lessons, and the bond was as beneficial to Ed as much as Roman. Ed’s other grandchildren are older and live further away, and it was such a joy for him to be able to spend the last 12 years with Roman. They both truly benefitted from their relationship.

Ed is preceded in death by his mother and father, Rosie and Edward (slim) Smith, Sr., sister, Marie Clanton, and baby brother James. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Chaun; 4 children, Edward (son)of Austin, Misti Nicholas (daughter) and husband Mike of Huntsville, Kristi Hayman (daughter) and husband James of Huntsville, Amber Wahl (daughter) and husband Toby of Tyler, 6 grandchildren; Grant and Morgan Nicholas, Logan Curry, Hayden Hayman, and Roman and Canaan Wahl; and one great grandson, Rankin Currie; sister Patsy Ann Sipes; 2 nieces, Cynthia and Liz, and one nephew Ricky, And numerous friends.

Graveside service for Edward Smith, Jr. will be 2:00 P.M. Monday, August 2, 2021 at Rosedale Cemetery in Gladewater, under the direction of Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater.

The family is very grateful to Knobby LeTourneau and the wonderful staff at Hospice of East Texas for being there to support and comfort Ed during his transition.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials be sent in Edwards honor to Hospice of East Texas, Hospice Homeplace; 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701