Betty Ann Smith

Betty Ann Smith passed peacefully on Oct 3, 2024, at the age of 94. She was a longtime resident of Woodway, TX; of the Smith Bend community in Bosque County, TX; and of Houston, TX. She was born Dec 3, 1929, in Dublin, Virginia to Mary Elizabeth Kroeger and Andrew Galbreath Bell, and grew up in East Tennessee.

At the age of 19, Betty traveled to Houston, TX to visit family. On a blind date shortly after, she met the love of her life, Donald Leonard Smith. They married on Dec 30, 1950. In 1952, Betty gave birth to a son, Donald Jr. (Donny), followed by daughter Karen in 1957. Sadly, they suffered the losses of son Donny in 1964 and of an infant daughter in 1965. Their last child, daughter Robin, was born in 1967.

Betty worked in a wide range of fields, and also served as a librarian, lifeguard, and swim instructor. She was very active; she and Don spent summers water skiing with friends, going to Galveston beach, and picnicking. She also loved sightseeing around Houston, and the family often attended musical performances since Betty adored music. Don and Betty loved to travel and visited many National Parks and family and friends all over the country. In later years, Betty also traveled abroad, visiting several countries.

Betty was very artistic and could draw, paint, and embroider beautiful pictures. She enjoyed taking art classes and she also sewed well. She loved reading of all sorts, and she and Don loved genealogy research and traveled to many libraries and cemeteries across the South. They also served as officers of the Smith Bend Cemetery Association in Bosque County. 

Betty was devoted to her family and loved Don’s family as much as her own. She visited everyone as often as she could and was always there when they needed her. She spent lots of time with her children and grandchildren, instilling in them her love of singing, and often delighted them with her skill in clogging, the twist, and the jitterbug. She taught them all to love books and the outdoors, and taught her grandchildren to embroider, paint, and sew, and kept them enthralled with paper dolls made by hand.

But what Betty loved more than anything in the world was her husband, Donald. They were a match made in heaven and did everything together. It was devastating for her when he passed in 2012, but her buoyant spirit and positive outlook sustained her.

Betty said once that she didn’t know if she was a good mother, a good wife, or a good person, she only knew that she did the best that she could, and that’s all anyone can do. Everyone who knew her would surely agree that she was all those things, and we are blessed to have had her in our lives.

Betty is preceded in death by husband Donald L. Smith, son Donny, daughter Linda, parents Andrew Galbreath Bell and Mary Elizabeth Kroeger Bell, sister Dale Bacon Cinnamon, and brother Daniel Bell.

Her beautiful life will forever be remembered by those she leaves behind: her daughter Karen Edwards and husband Ron of Clifton, her daughter Robin Simpson and husband Scott of Woodway; her grandchildren Jessica Barlow and husband Cody of Crawford, 

Jeffrey Edwards and wife Rachel of McKinney, Michael Edwards of Houston, Amanda Simpson of Woodway, and Katherine Simpson of Woodway; step-grandchildren Renee Armstrong and husband Robert, Greg Edwards and wife Lena; her sisters-in-law Anne Duncan of Houston, Sandra Turner and husband Mike of Meridian, and by many nephews, nieces, great- and great-great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers: Robert Armstrong, Cody Barlow, Jeffrey Edwards, Michael Edwards, David Walters, and Robert Walters.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at First Baptist Church, Clifton with Pastor Cody Creel officiating. Burial will follow at Smith Bend-Coon Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be held before the service, 9:30-11:00 A.M. at the church.

Memorials may be made to Smith Bend Cemetery Association.