On May 12, 2020, at 10:20 PM, Joe Smith went to be with the Lord after a long battle with Appendix Cancer.  While Joe lost this battle, he was proud to be a two-time cancer survivor.  He loved ringing that bell at MD Anderson.  While we are heartbroken with his loss, we will, and I hope that you all remember him for his big heart, his unbreakable work ethic, his smile, and that glorious afro upon his head.

Joe was preceded in death by his loving wife, Joyce Carraway Smith, his parents, Luther and Rose Smith, his sister, Pearl Smith and his nephew Jason Schultz.  He is survived by his current loving wife, Audria "Bobbie" Boyd, his son, Guy Smith and wife Jill, his bonus daughters, Vicki Boyd Brammer and Audee Boyd Dowd and his loving dog, Goober.  He is also survived by his sister, Mary Harper, his nephews, Tim and Brian Harper and his grandchildren Zachary and Emily Dowd.  Joe is also survived by a number of friends and family who love him.

Joe was born in Houston, TX at St, Joseph's Hospital in 1941.  He grew up in Magnolia, TX where he graduated from Magnolia High School.  He was an accomplished tuba and bass player and received a scholarship to Blinn College to pursue music.  While he chose a different path to make his own mark and start his career, he always maintained a love for music.  After high school, Joe went to work for Red Ball Motor Freight and attended classes at University of Houston.  During that time, Joe, as many other men, heard the words of John F. Kennedy about "All able-bodied Men" and he enlisted in to the United States Army.  Joe served in the Army as a helicopter pilot, serving as one of the General's personal pilots.  He served during the Berlin Crisis, watching the Berlin Wall go up, and during the Cuban Missile Crisis, sitting on the tarmac for 24 hours waiting to be sent into World War III.  Thankfully, that Crisis was averted, and we never saw that horrible event happen.

After the military, Joe came back to Magnolia and married Joyce Carraway Smith.  They had a son, Guy Smith and owned various businesses, including GW Exxon and S&S Grocery.  After selling those businesses, Joe and the family moved to Franklin, TX, where they started more successful businesses, including New Baden General Store.  Joe had greater visions for himself and became County Commissioner for eight years.  He was so proud to serve his community and get to work with the likes of Bob Bullock and even got to meet then Governor, George Bush.

After the passing of his sweet wife Joyce, which he spent 30 wonderful years together, Joe relocated to the Houston area, spending his remaining years in the Kemah area.  He was fortunate enough to reconnect with a life-long friend and remarried to Bobbie Boyd and spent the last 20 years of his life as an owner-operator hauling Hazardous Materials.  Joe and Bobbie were both broken souls when they rekindled their friendship and the two eventually fell in love and healed each other's wounds.  Bobbie was the light of his life in his latter years and the two of them travelled the country with their dog Goober, sharing many adventures.  As a family, we were thankful that the two of them were able to fill the voids left by their former spouses.

Joe had a wonderful life, from growing up in tiny Magnolia, TX, and not having two nickels to rub together, to becoming a successful business owner and County Commissioner.  Although he achieved those high levels of success, nothing mattered more to him than the love of his friends and family.  While he will be dearly missed, we are thankful that the struggle is over and that he is now at peace and can rejoin his family members that have passed and sit side-by-side with his loving partner Joyce.  May God Bless him and all that knew him.

Services will be held graveside at Oklahoma Community Cemetery, where he will be laid beside his loving wife Joyce.  Services will be Friday, at 2 PM.  If you would like to send flowers, please do, but if you feel inclined, please send a donation to the Appendix Cancer Foundation, ACPMP, in honor of Joseph Adam Smith or any family member that has passed from Cancer.  Please feel free to bring your own chair if it is needed and don't forget your umbrella, as it may be raining.