John D. Smith

John Dunham Smith was born June 11, 1943 in Perryton, TX and passed away peacefully March 7, 2026 in Van TX after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

John attended Perryton, TX public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, graduating in 1961. While in high school he played football, baseball, ran track, was involved in drama class, competed on the debate team, and was class president his senior year. He started throwing papers at age 10. He worked in the summers as a lineman one summer, harvesting hay one summer, and as a junior counselor one summer at Falls Creek Church Camp in Oklahoma. After graduating high school, John attended Oklahoma Baptist University, where he met his college sweetheart, Phyllis Jean Parker. They married in 1963 and had two daughters, Kelli Dawn and Julie Michelle. In 1965 John graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) in Shawnee, Oklahoma with a Bachelor's degree in Hospital Administration and Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in religion. After graduating OBU, he pastored two small town Baptist churches, including Lindsey Chapel in Eufaula, Oklahoma and a small Baptist church in Green River, Wyoming. He soon shifted his career to hospital administration, where, over the next 10+ years, he held the position of Administrator in three Oklahoma hospitals, consecutively: Collinsville, Frederick, and Idabel. While in Idabel, he helped orchestrate the construction of the new three-story hospital, which still stands and is in full operation today. Many coworkers and friends from the Idabel hospital have continued their friendships and have had an Ole Friends Reunion every year up until 4 years ago. Those who are still living continue to stay in touch.

In 1974, John met the forever love of his life, Margaret Watson Barker, and they were married. Margaret had one daughter, Sheri Ann, from her previous marriage. And after 10 years of marriage, John and Margaret had a daughter, Joanna Noel. They had a life of many adventures and travels.

John began an exciting career in the realm of physician recruitment in 1977 with the Whittaker Corporation recruiting physicians and all hospital personnel into hospitals overseas in the country of Saudi Arabia. He met sheiks and rode on a camel or two and one time was retained upon arrival in Saudi Arabia due to his name being thought fictious. John was working for Whittaker Corporation in Washington, DC and later, in Las Colinas and Grapevine, TX.

He then changed jobs and went to work for Jackson and Coker in Atlanta, GA in Physician Recruiting in 1984 and until 1995.

He held the position of Vice President of one division of the company in seeking and recruiting physicians for general practice and was President of another division seeking and recruiting Anesthesiologists for hospitals.

John also taught the Adult Singles Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church in Alpharetta, GA. He and Margaret were sponsors of the class.

After his retirement to Texas, John wanted to raise Yorkshire Terriers. He and Margaret started their business of Little Happy Hearts Kennels, raising and selling sweet, healthy Yorkies across the nation. The kennel was annually inspected and accredited by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Their kennel was in business 14 years, during which time Margaret continued to work as a registered nurse. They closed the kennel in 2020, after raising many beautiful puppies. And still have friends to this day of those who purchased puppies from them.

John also loved to be on his tractor to farm and plant gardens of vegetables, blackeyed peas and fields of crimson clover. He baled hay and had a combine to harvest the crimson clover. He and his good local friends, Ronnie Taylor, Kip McClellan, and David Rumblelow were always busy on their farms and ranches and/or repairing equipment. And Coy Weems, also a good friend, and he would stay busy mowing pasture or building something.

John's family includes his wife Margaret of 51 years; daughters Kelli Cutshall of Benbrook, TX; Sheri Barker of Van, TX (deceased); Julie Smith of Eufaula, OK; and Noel Weems of Van, TX. Grandchildren: Chrystal Gefaller of Hill City, SD; Drew Hutchinson of Washington, DC; Tre Hill of Van, TX; Kendyl Cutshall of Benbrook, TX; Lane and Logan Weems of Van, TX; and two great grandsons Christian and Levi Gefaller of Hill City, SD. John's sisters are Ruth Ann Cowand of Mans eld, TX and Martha Jo Smith of Perryton, TX (deceased). John's parents are H.E. and Faith Smith of Perryton, TX (both deceased). John has MANY wonderful cousins, but two are considered like brothers: Don Dick Dunham of Frederick, OK and Freddie Smith of Yukon, OK. John has several nieces and nephews, who live in Texas, and he has many friends who are considered to be like family.

A celebration of life will be held for John at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Pruitt Baptist Church.