On March 1, 2025 Jerry Lee Smith walked with a sense of purpose up to the gates of Heaven, shook Gabriel's hand and stepped into the presence of his Lord. He passed peacefully and there is joy that his suffering is over.  Through it all, he retained his spirit of kindness, gratitude, humility and his sense of humor.

Celebrating his life are his wife of almost 69 years, Mary Helen; daughters Beverly Horak and Christy Morris, and son Blaine Smith and his wife Karen.  Also cherishing the memories of their PaPa are six grandchildren: Bekah Roebuck, Payne Smith Morris, Kendall Savani and her husband Soham, Colton Lee Smith and his wife Elizabeth, Sydney Smith and Pierce Smith. He was very pleased he got to meet two great grandsons, Shepherd Savani and Bankston Lee Smith.  Special thanks to Susan Bryant and De'Erica Jones, his faithful caregivers as well as the hospice staff at CC Young in Dallas.

He is reunited with his parents, Ethel and Milton Gus Smith, his brothers Ferrell, Arnold, Elson and Preston, his sister Odell, sons-in-law Dennis Horak and Kirk Morris and many other friends and family.

Born July 30, 1934 in the middle of the Great Depression in Millerton, a crossroads in far north, rural Louisiana, Jerry was the youngest of six children. He was a graduate of Haynesville High School, class of 1952, and a 1955 graduate of St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

Jerry had joyful memories of growing up on the farm, fishing in the surrounding ponds as well as when his siblings would come home to visit.

He attended New Ramah Primitive Baptist Church, where he felt the call to follow Jesus.  He was a believer from that time on.

After working at his Uncle Roland's pharmacy, Bond Drug, behind the soda fountain in high school, he applied and was accepted into the St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

Shortly after returning to Haynesville to work at Bond Drug as a pharmacist, he met Mary Helen Spivey. They married in 1956 and their journey began.

In 1960, while Jerry was a traveling salesman for Upjohn Drug Co, he found the opportunity to buy into Hesser Drug Company in Ennis realizing his dream - owning a drug store in a small town near a big city - and knowing he had found his home.

For over 60 years, Jerry immersed himself in all phases of life in Ennis.  On each of their stops, Jerry and Mary Helen found a church home, joining Tabernacle Baptist Church in 1960 where they attended and served faithfully until health prevented it.

He was a member of the Ennis Jaycees early on, and a proud member of the Ennis Noon Lions Club since 1960.  He always loved the camaraderie of Lions Club serving a term as president and a couple of terms as Tailtwister.  Later in life, one of his joys was serving on the board of the Texas Lions Camp in Kerrville for special needs kids, and he often went down to work at the camp.  He also served on the Ennis Industrial Foundation board which helped bring new industries to Ennis as well as the Ennis Planning and Zoning Commission. He was a long-time season ticket holder for Ennis Lions football games and attended faithfully.

Aviation was fairly new when he was growing up and he had the bug to fly, so he got his pilot's license. Since Ennis didn't have an airport in the early 1960's, he and a few other local Ennis men worked with Mayor Jack McKay to get approval for an airport, and they donated their time and built the airport which is still in use today.  Jerry also loved to play golf, fish, travel and play bridge and dominoes.

Jerry's greatest passion was his family.  He and Mary Helen valued spending time with their family whether it was traveling, attending sporting events, pageants, dance recitals or just spending time with them when they visited throughout the years. If their grandchildren were involved in anything, they would be there to support them.

Reverend Grady Cashion will officiate a memorial celebration of a life well lived at J. E. Keever Mortuary Friday, March 14 at 1:30 pm, followed by visitation with the family.

In lieu of flowers, you are invited to donate to one of the following or a charity of your choice:
• Tabernacle Baptist Church - https://tabernaclefamily.org/give/
• Texas Lions Camp - https://lionscamp.com/donations.html