Keith A. Smith

1934 - 2024

Keith A. Smith

May 21, 1934 - January 21, 2024

Frisco, Texas - Keith A. Smith passed away January 21st in Plano, Texas, where he resided at Harbor Chase Memory Care for the past two years. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, January 30, at University Christian Church, Chapel of the Good Shepherd, in Fort Worth, TX.

Keith was born May 21, 1934, in McAllen, TX, the fourth son of Lloyd Everett & Laura Fullen Smith. He attended Texas Tech University & graduated in 1957 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He earned a commission with the Navy after Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, and served with the Civil Engineering Corps. His first duty station was at Peugeot Sound Naval Shipyard; then with Construction Battalion Eleven, building warehouses on Okinawa for the Marines.

Upon completion of three years of active duty, he accepted a job in 1960 with the City of Fort Worth in traffic engineering. He married Margaret Ann Martin in 1963. In 1969, he was promoted to Development Coordinator, then Public Works Director & later as Assistant to the City Manager. Among his projects were the redevelopment of downtown Main Street & the Stockyards. In 1983, he became a partner with Everage, Smith & Farrington Engineering. He was selected as Engineer of the Year in 1986 by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. In 1990, he began employment with Dallas Area Rapid Transit as project manager for the design & construction of the North Central light rail, retiring in 2001.

Keith became interested in growing irises in 1985. He joined the Fort Worth Iris Society & filled his lawn with over five hundred different irises. Friends & family were invited to an Open Garden party each spring. Keith served as President of the Fort Worth Iris Society & was coordinator for the 1993 American Iris Society Convention held in Fort Worth.

He served as an Elder at University Christian Church. He was active in all aspects of the Church's mission. His entire family is grateful to have been members of this loving congregation.

In 2012, he & his wife moved to Frisco, TX, to be near their grandchildren. Keith enjoyed volunteering at the Frisco Food Pantry. He is survived by his wife & their children, Dr. Alan Arro Smith & partner David Gentry, Laura Margaret "Daisy" Brockman & husband Dr. Reece Brockman; grandchildren Arro Reece, Miles Keith, & Margaret Elizabeth Brockman.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to University Christian Church or the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

Arrangements by Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow, 8520 Main Street, Frisco, TX.