James E. "Jim" Smith

James Edmond (Jim) Smith, 85, of Houston, TX, passed away Friday, April 24, 2015.

Jim was born in Shreveport, LA, on May 4, 1929 to the late Samuel Lawrence and Eddie Mae Smith. Jim's full life began in the Shreveport community of Cedar Grove. He participated in ROTC, played football at Fairpark High School, and went on to get his GED after joining the US Air Force near the end of WWII.

After his time in the military, Jim pursued a life in sales, working in Louisiana, Dallas, TX, High Point, NC, and Houston, TX, before starting and managing his own insurance agency for more than 20 years.

Jim and his first wife, Janice Marie Rowland, raised three children, enjoying square dancing and community service in and around Friendswood, TX. After Janice passed away, Jim was blessed to find a soul mate in Marcia Hartman, and he and Marcia were married in 1990. Marcia brought with her three sons from a previous marriage. They continued their active lifestyle, including square dancing, traveling, gardening and growing their insurance agency.

Jim is survived by his wife, Marcia, six children and their spouses: Lynn Smith and Bobby Cronin of Humble, TX; Lee and Carolyn Smith of Deer Park, TX; Kelly and Deborah Smith of Kings Mills, OH; John and Amy Hartman, of Austin, TX; Ben and Ava Hartman of Portland, OR; and Paul and Karol Hartman, of Richmond, TX. He is also survived by his sister, Sammie Buchanan, of Austin, TX, a niece, two nephews and seventeen grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at Earthman Funeral Home in Stafford, TX.