Mary B. Smith

1920 - 2014

Mary Blanche Smith, a retired public school teacher, died Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. Funeral: 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church. Interment: Walnut Grove Cemetery in Prosper. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole. Pallbearers: Jon Bradford, Ted Hankamer, John Benjamin Hickey, Ab Jenkins, Steve Robichaux, Hunter Smith, James Smith and Tyler Smith. Memorials: Should friends desire, memorials may be given to the James E. and Mary B. Smith Scholarship Fund at TCU or a charity of the donor's choice. Mary was born to Jess and Nola Smith on Jan. 30, 1920, on a farm near McKinney. Growing up on this North Texas farm, she attended a one-room country school for the first eight years of her education and then entered the McKinney public schools and graduated from McKinney High School. Mary received her B.A. degree and M.A. degree from North Texas Teachers College, now known as the University of North Texas. After two years of teaching in Henderson, Mary moved to Fort Worth and taught English for 39 years in the Fort Worth public schools. She was a beloved teacher at J.P. Elder Junior High School and Leonard Middle School. She became a member of First Presbyterian Church in 1947. In 1950 she married James E. "Doc" Smith, an employee of Central Freight. Mary and Doc made Fort Worth their home and became engaged in the community. Mary was a member of the Fort Worth Woman's Club, did volunteer work at The Child Study Center and was active in the Presbyterian Women's work. Mary B., as she was called by many, was known for her unique sense of humor, which found expression in her personal relationships, as well as in programs she was called upon to present for clubs and church groups. The generosity and contributions to the lives of others made by the Smiths will continue to be felt for years to come through the James E. and Mary B. Smith Scholarship Fund which Mary established at TCU. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Jess and Nola Smith; and her husband, Doc Smith. Survivors: Cousin, Loreta Hickey of Plano, and her sons, John Benjamin Hickey and Tom Hickey; nephew, Gerald Whitney Smith and wife, Gretchen, of Fort Worth; niece, Paula Jenkins and husband, Ab, of Pasco, Wash.; nephew, Brad Harrell Smith and wife, Diane, of Fort Worth; niece, Mary Elizabeth Robichaux and husband, Steve, of North Carolina; and a host of friends.