John Edwin "Smitty" Smith
John Edwin "Smitty" Smith
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McWhorter Funeral Home - GilmerJohn Smith Obituary
Graveside services for John Edwin "Smitty" Smith, 79, of Gilmer, Texas, will be held at 3:00 pm, Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Zavalla Cemetery with Reverend David Everett and Michael Shane Gossett officiating. Visitation will be 1:30 pm -3:30 pm, Saturday at McWhorter Funeral Home in Gilmer. Arrangements are under the direction of McWhorter Funeral Home.
Smitty was born on June 25, 1946, in Houston, Texas, to Johnnie Morris Smith and Ruby Estelle (Womack) Miller, and passed from this life on February 2, 2026, in Tyler, Texas.
Smitty married Trisha Ann McCullar on December 5, 1966, in Laporte, Texas. He proudly served our country in the United States Army. He worked for many years for TABC, and he always enjoyed their campouts. Smitty loved his friends, family, his grandchildren, and his Bassett Hounds, Bo and Tank.
He retired from TABC. One of his favorite TABC assignments was teaching Project Save to children at numerous schools in East Texas.
He taught many recruits at the East Texas Police Academy at Kilgore College. He loved teaching firearms and various classroom subjects required.
His classrooms filled quickly for 13 years with citizens needing training regarding the new Concealed Handgun Laws.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Trisha Ann Smith aka Ms. Fitts; daughter, Michelle Leigh Smith Gossett and husband, Robert Shane "Dugan" Gossett; niece Melissa Golden; grandchildren, Michael Shane Gossett and wife Jazmin, Sarah Nikole Gossett, Surenity Gossett, Renezmae Gossett, and Tyler Gossett; and great-grandchild, Rynlee Moody.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Johnnie Morris Smith, Ruby Miller, and stepfather Marvin Miller.
The family would like to recognize The Hospice of East Texas Home Place in Tyler, Reliant Home Health, Dr. April Gatson, Dr. LittleJohn, and Dr. Robert Frederick.
A memorial service for John will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, February 28, 2026, at McWhorter Funeral Home for his friends in Gilmer and the surrounding area.
Please visit Smitty's online registration book at www.mcwhorterfh.com to leave a memory for the family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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1074 St. Hwy 300, Gilmer, TX 75645
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Upcoming Events
Feb
7
Services provided by
McWhorter Funeral Home - Gilmer