Gary Smith

Gary Charles Smith, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a friend to all who knew him, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2025, in Bastrop, Texas, at the age of 91.

Gary was born on January 25, 1934, in Hempstead, Long Island, New York, the youngest of three children born to Frank and Florence Smith. He spent an idyllic childhood and adolescence there, where he was able to nurture his multiple talents and interests such as gardening, fishing, and boating. Tinkering in the family basement was a favorite pastime, experimenting with chemistry sets and building various gizmos, gadgets, and contraptions. During his school years, he worked many part-time jobs related to his interests, later regaling his family and friends with tales of his work adventures. Gary graduated from Hempstead High School in 1951 and attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he was an accomplished student, graduating with honors in 1955 with a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering.

After graduating, Gary moved to Houston, Texas, to begin his career with Shell Chemical in Deer Park. It was there he met the love of his life, Patsy "Pat" Lou Moore of Beaumont, Texas. After Gary served 2 years in the Army, the couple was married on October 5, 1957. In 1959, they settled in LaPorte, Texas, to raise their two daughters, Laurie and Kim. He was a wonderful, creative, and caring father who was always there for his girls. He designed and built them whimsical backyard playscapes and bedroom furniture, and taught them to appreciate the natural world through traveling, camping, fishing, gardening, and exposure to the myriad science and nature books in the home. Always a practical man, Gary imparted essential life skills, ensuring his daughters knew how to work on a car, paint a house, mow a lawn, catch a fish, use a tool, tie a knot, weed a garden, and generally fix anything. These hands-on lessons and many more, were delivered with the unwavering love and guidance he provided throughout their young lives.

In 1985, Gary was transferred to the Shell Refinery Plant in Anacortes, Washington, where he continued his career and numerous interests and hobbies that he pursued both during his work-life and after his retirement from Shell in 1993. Always active and possessing a wonderful sense of adventure, Gary hiked, mountain climbed, scuba dived, worked on and captained his boat, and enjoyed all aspects of land- and water-based nature, including fishing, crabbing, and shrimping. An avid gardener, he could often be found tending his beautifully landscaped yard, nurturing his vegetable garden, or pruning his apple trees. Gary had an abiding love of all weather and space phenomena, science fiction, and the mysterious, enjoying shows and books on everything from tornados and hurricanes to cryptids and aliens. Together with Pat, he indulged a love for travel, exploring destinations across the United States, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, France, and Columbia, often alongside family members. They especially loved attending local annual events, such as the Skagit County Tulip Festival and the Anacortes Arts and Crafts Fair. As a couple, they explored estate sales and antique shops, building an impressive collection of antiques and memorabilia.

Lovingly known as "Pawpaw" to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he delighted in spending time with them, providing them with a sense of curiosity about the world, his video camera perpetually on his shoulder to document their young lives. A great sport with a wonderfully fun and playful spirit, he was quick to laugh at himself. Even into his 80s, he never lost his desire for fun, happily riding go-karts, dressing up for Halloween, or getting down on the floor to play with the kids. Gary lived a full and unique life, a one-of-a-kind individual who fit more into one decade than most accomplish in a lifetime. Most of all, he was thoughtful, gentle, and kind, leaving all who knew him with a smile and a sense of positivity. The eternal optimist, he believed good things would happen regardless of challenges or setbacks, and he consistently saw the goodness in others. He was always there to help out anyone in need. We will miss his enduring love and support, his steadfast perseverance, his warm smile, and his infectious sense of wonder for this world and beyond.

In 2018 Gary moved back to Texas to live close to his family. The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated and compassionate staff at Argent Court Assisted Living in Bastrop, Texas, where Gary spent the last year of his life. Their exceptional care and kindness ensured he was treated like family. Deep appreciation is also extended to the outstanding staff of Aspen Hospice and Palliative Care, whose remarkable compassion and support brought immense comfort to Gary and his family throughout his final journey.

He is survived by his two daughters: Laurie Lynn Smith Schutza and her husband, Pete, of Cedar Creek, Texas, and Kimberly Kay Smith Plant and her husband, Robert, of Baytown, Texas; five grandchildren: John Napier and wife Libby, Saira Schutza Holland and husband Will, Aaron Schutza, Nicole Napier, and Jillian Plant; and two great-grandchildren: Nico and Ruby Holland. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Pat Moore Smith; his parents, Frank Van Syckle Smith and Florence Alice Spille Smith; and his siblings, Frank V. Smith, Jr., Gordon Smith, and Arlene Smith Sweedler.

A memorial service celebrating Gary's life will be held at the family home at a date and time yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Gary's name to the Alzheimer's Association to support research and care, which can be done directly through their website: https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate.