Sue McReynolds Smith

1938 - 2017

Sue Mc Reynolds Smith was born 21 January 1938, the only child to Oliver B. McReynolds, Jr. and Ellen Roueche McReynolds in Oklahoma City, OK. She grew up surrounded by a large, close-knit family in Palestine, TX. She graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Art with Minors in Art History and Education. She received her Master of Art degree from North Texas University in Fibers and Education. She met her future husband, David M. Smith of Austin, TX in an oil painting class at UT. They both moved to Dallas, TX where she began her teaching career within the DISD. They were married in Palestine on 02 January 1965. They moved to Fort Worth, TX in 1968 and their only child, Ellen Elizabeth was born in 1969.
Sue taught all levels of art education: grades 1-12 with Fort Worth Country Day School from 1971-1985, instructor of Extended Education with Texas Christian University from 1983-1989, instructor of Adult Education with the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History from 1983-1987, where she also served as an Exhibit Assistant from 1985-1988.
In 1990, Sue and David moved to Palestine where they opened The Booksmith Bookstore pulling from her love of books. After ten years, they closed the store but she continued to share her love of reading by becoming the Director of the Palestine Public Library. She created a books on wheels program by visiting local homebound people and others in care facilities. She and David produced, directed and assisted in the writing of many murder mystery melodramas to raise funds for the library. Collaborating together on these projects brought them both great joy and a lot of laughter.
Sue and David moved to Weatherford to be close to their daughter and family in 2007.
Sue's true passion and talent was being a studio artist. She created, exhibited and marketed sculptural basketry nationally. She demonstrated and taught design courses in basketry and papermaking internationally. She studied techniques and natural material usage of the Papago, Cherokee and White Mountain Apache Indians. She wrote a technical book, Natural Fiber Basketry, was featured in many basketry books, magazines, newspapers and several local television feature stories. She was sought after for her extensive knowledge, and gentle teaching methods and had a large following of her work in those mediums.
Sue was active in the Fort Worth Junior Women's League, Zeta Tau Alpha Alumnae, Delta Kapa Gamma, Texas Basket Weavers Association, Handweavers Guild of America, Inc., the Anderson and the Parker County Master Gardener's Associations, various book clubs, St. Philip's Episcopal Church of Palestine and Trinity Episcopal Church of Fort Worth.
Sue was much loved for her kind, generous, loving heart and spirit.
Survivors: Husband of fifty-four years, David M. Smith, daughter Ellen Smith Brown and her husband, Jerry W. Brown, granddaughters Baleigh Deann Brown and Riley Elizabeth Brown, many loving extended family members and friends.
Memorials: Contributions may be made in her name to the Alzheimer's Association, North Central Texas Chapter; James L. West Alzheimer Center, Fort Worth; your local library organization or favorite charity.
Services: Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M at Bailey & Foster Chapel, 207 S. Magnolia, Palestine, TX; her funeral service will take place immediately following. Interment will follow in Land of Memory Cemetery, US Highway 287 N, Palestine, TX. Arrangements have been entrusted to Bailey & Foster Funeral Home. Memorial service will be held 9:00 AM, Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at Trinity Episcopal Church located at 3401 Bellaire Drive S. in Fort Worth, TX.