Jimmie Kay (Brown) Smith

June 9, 1918

January 7, 2014

Jimmie Kay (Brown) Smith, a long time resident of Salado, passed away on January 7 in Turlock, California where she was in a senior residence under the care of her granddaughter, Kathryn Escobar and her family.  Born June 9, 1918 in Crawford, Texas, Mrs. Smith was 95.

Mrs. Smith was a graduate of Crawford High School and attended nurses training in Temple, Texas at Scott and White.  There she was introduced to her husband of 62 years, James T. Smith lll by Mr. Smith’s sister, Edith (Smith) Whitley, a long time resident of Temple before her death.  Jack and Jimmie were married in 1939 when Mr. Smith was working as a Texas State Trooper.  Their son and only child,  J. Michael Smith was born in 1942.  Mr. Smith entered the U.S. Marines in 1942 and fought in the Pacific theatre until 1945.  After WW II the family moved to the Texas panhandle where Mr. Smith entered the oil and gas industry, in which he remained the rest of his life, working as a landman for various major oil companies.  The job involved lots of moving around, with the family living in Amarillo; Billings, Montana; Casper, Wyoming and Durango, Colorado.  

Jack and Jimmie retired from Amarillo to Salado in 1982, with Jack remaining involved in independent oil operations.  Jimmie, who had long been a class golfer, continued her love of the game at her beloved Mill Creek club with their house backing on to the 18th fairway.  Prior to moving there she had won state championships in Montana and Wyoming and the West Texas ladies’ championship while in Amarillo.  During her Salado days she won numerous club championships.  They were also active members of the First Methodist Church of Belton and Salado.  Mr. Smith passed away in 2001.  Mrs. Smith remained in the Salado/Temple area until 2006 when she moved to central California to be cared for by her loving granddaughters Katy and Jennifer.  Katy’s daughters and Jimmie’s great granddaughters, Alex and Annie will miss their frequent visits to Jimmie.

Jimmie was predeceased by her father and mother Will and Grace Brown of Crawford and her brother, Glenn Brown of Crawford and Wilma (Brown) Chambless of Oklahoma City.  She is survived by son Dr. J. Michael Smith of Pontotoc, Texas and granddaughters Kathryn Escobar of Turlock, California and Jennifer Connon of San Francisco.  

Announcements will follow for the burial ceremony later in the spring at the Crawford, Texas cemetery.