On May 21, 2025 Mary Helen Smith took her place among the angels.  She spent her life in selfless pursuit of service to others, living out her faith and spreading Christ's love to all she met.

Celebrating her life are her daughters Beverly Horak and Christy Morris, and son Blaine Smith and his wife Karen.  Also cherishing the memories of their Gran are six grandchildren: Mary Rebekah Roebuck, Payne Smith Morris, Kendall Savani and her husband Soham, Colton Lee Smith and his wife Elizabeth, Sydney Smith and Pierce Smith. She was very pleased to meet two great grandsons, Shepherd Savani and Bankston Lee Smith.  She is also survived by sisters Nelwyn Lowe, Marie Bailey, Linda Lowry and brother Winston Spivey and his wife, Pat.

She is reunited with her husband of almost 69 years, Jerry, parents, Myrtle Spivey and Bernard Spivey Sr., brothers Bernard "June" Spivey, Jr., Conrad Spivey, Duwain Spivey, Derwood Spivey and Harold Jean Spivey, sons-in-law Dennis Horak and Kirk Morris and many other friends and family.

Mary Helen Spivey was born June 23, 1937 in Haynesville, Louisiana, the seventh of ten children.  She was a graduate of Haynesville High School in 1955, and attended Ayers Career College in Shreveport.

She married Jerry Smith, also of Haynesville, on June 30, 1956.  After moves to Carthage and Corsicana, they made their forever home in Ennis in 1960.

She began her journey of faith and was baptized on December 15, 1946 in the First Baptist Church of Haynesville. After moving to Ennis in 1960, she became an active member of Tabernacle Baptist Church singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, helping in the church office, and various other roles over the years.  Anytime there was an occasion, her gift of service was showing up with a casserole or pie, and an encouraging or comforting word.

She was also quite active in the community as a member of the Century Club, Garden Club, Pink Ladies at Ennis Municipal Hospital, Brownie leader, Meals on Wheels, American Heart Association volunteer, room mother, Ennis Public Library board, Friends of the Library, Ennis Host Lions Club, Beta Sigma Phi and the Ellis County Child Advocacy Board of Directors.

Mary Helen and Jerry were staunch supporters of Ennis Lions sports and avid bridge and 42 players.

Mary's greatest passion was her family.  She hosted most holidays and special occasions at her home and loved having the entire family together as often as possible.  She organized several cruises and family vacations over the years and always had her camera ready to document and journal her travels. She and Jerry were fixtures at any sporting events, pageants, dance recitals, graduations or any activity, supporting their kids and grandkids throughout the years.  Mary Helen loved having the grandkids stay at Gran's house, especially baking goodies with them in her kitchen.

Reverend Grady Cashion will officiate a memorial celebration of a life well lived at J E Keever Mortuary Friday, May 30 at 2 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/

• Ellis County Children's Advocacy Center - Donate to Ellis County Childrens Advocacy Center