Pamela Ouida Golden-Smith

1960 - 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden and tragic passing of Pamela Smith and family due to the recent, unprecedented Hill Country floods.

Pamela Ouida Golden Smith, 64, of Dripping Springs, Texas, met her Lord and Savior in the early hours of July 4th, 2025 in Hunt, Texas. She was born in Dermott, Arkansas to John Hatten Golden and Doris Earline Anker on August 31st, 1960.

Pam grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas where she graduated from Parkview High School. She attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she studied and excelled as a Computer Science major. While at U of A, Pam was a proud member of the Phi Mu Sorority, where she made many life long friends. After graduating, Pam courageously left Arkansas to start a new chapter of her life in Houston, Texas. She began working in IT at Texaco where she would soon meet the love of her life, Michael Donamy Smith. They married on August 9th, 1986 in Missouri City, Texas at Heaven on Earth. Pam continued her career at Chevron for the years to come, before retiring in 2015 and moving out of the big city to Dripping Springs, where Pam and Mike would build their dream home.

Pam was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Pam enjoyed staying busy and always having something to do. She was involved with several organizations including Canine Companions, Foster Village, St. Jude's and many others. Every holiday season for the past several years, Pam would host a wreath clinic for the Mother's Day Out event at Foster Village. She designed different wreath options and taught mom's to make a wreath for themselves and one wreath to give away, so everyone would have some Christmas cheer in their home.

Despite her involvement in various organizations, she always found time to spend with her two daughters and grandchildren. Pam enjoyed giving gifts, especially hand crafted gifts, to her family and friends, always wanting to put smiles on peoples' faces. She also enjoyed traveling the world with Mike, visiting and experiencing new places together and some repeat places as well including her favorite place on Earth, Hawaii. Pam also LOVED music as she never missed a chance to have music on in the background- no matter what she was doing. You cannot think of Pam without thinking about her love for dogs, always extending a helping hand where she could. In one of her dear sorority sister's words, Pam was a unique person full of humility, spunk, wildness, intelligence, grit, courage, and love.

Pam was preceded in death by her father, John Hatten and her mother, Doris Golden.

Pam was wife to Mike Smith; mother to Mallory Carpenter and Madeline Smith, mother-in-law to Brian Carpenter and Kathleen Cunnane; sister to Yolanda Looper and Michael Golden; grandmother to Dalton and Blake Carpenter; aunt to Jared and Jonathan Looper and Robby Golden; and a cherished friend to so many.

Pam also lost her sweet dog, Tucker, in the floods as well.

Celebration of Life to be held in the coming weeks in Dripping Springs, TX.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Ranger Derek who has graciously been with us throughout this experience and the numerous medical doctors and staff for saving our lives. Special thanks to all the first responders and the citizens of Hunt, Ingram, and Kerrville who have reached out, donated, volunteered, and prayed for our family. Words cannot express how much gratitude we have toward people across the Hill Country and our great state of Texas and beyond. We also would not be able to do any of this without our beautiful family and friends- thank you all.

Condolences may be sent at www.grimesfuneralchapels.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville.