Ronnie Gene Smith, 77, of Cypress, passed away February 15, 2025. He was born November 7, 1947, in Ada, Oklahoma to the late Billie Eugene Smith and Edith Lorine Smith.

He is survived by his wife Claudia Lynn Smith, daughters Sharra Jan Gritz and son-in-law David Wayne Gritz, Shareece Louise Stults and son-in-law William Kyle Stults, Shanae Lorine Baker and son-in-law Denton Travis Baker, sister Djuana Lynn Ward, brothers Wayne Mark Smith and Eric Leland Smith. Ronnie has two Grandsons, Andrew Marshall Smith and Matthew Gibson Smith, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Billie Eugene Smith and Edith Lorine Smith.

Ronnie grew up in the "oil patch" working for his father's drilling and production companies. He started wrenching rods at age 10, and worked a multitude of field operation positions such as cementing and fracturing equipment operator, rig crew supervisor, heavy equipment operator, roustabout, oil & gas pumper, data technician, and more. During high school Ronnie worked as an auto mechanic and auto parts stock and sales clerk. The owner of the auto parts store said he had never had an employee before or since with such a spectacular memory regarding parts and numbers as Ronnie. During college Ronnie worked as a research technician for the Metallurgical Engineering Department and as a sports staff reporter for the Oklahoma Journal newspaper. While in college he was also the President of the Sigma-Tau Honorary Society and Chemical Engineers Club and a member of the Tau-Beta Honorary. Ronnie graduated college in 1970 from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering with Distinction (3.68/4.00).

After graduation he worked for Amoco for 32 years, filling multiple engineering, operations, technical, negotiations and managerial positions both domestic and international. After retiring from BP Amoco in 1999, Ronnie became President of his own international consulting company, SEFCO. Through SEFCO he joined Yukos Oil Company, the largest oil company in Russia, as Vice President and Director of International New Business Development. This required many years of travel and residency in Russia. While living in Moscow Ronnie became fluent in the language. He was a member of the Production Advisory forum's Operations Committee and Standardization Committee, the American Chamber of Commerce Operations Committee and oversaw Eurasia personnel in preparation for multiple commercial-technical meetings between U.S. and Russian governmental organizations.

Thereafter Ronnie returned stateside and continued in Petroleum Industry Consulting for Chevron, Occidental Petroleum, and others until he returned full-time as a Senior Reservoir Engineer for several years in Covington, Louisiana, then Abilene, Texas. In April 2024 Ronnie fully retired with over 55 years of expertise in the energy industry he was so knowledgeable of and passionate about.

Ronnie also utilized his intelligence to enjoy a multitude of interests and hobbies. He enjoyed fishing, playing family board games, playing gin rummy with Claudia, was an avid reader, an ancient history and archeology buff, and practiced speaking both Spanish and Russian languages. Ronnie was an excellent poker player, a private pilot for decades, and cattle rancher. He also enjoyed other talents such as woodworking and keeping up to speed with the latest tech. You would also be hard pressed to ever find a better pool shark than Ronnie. It was a rare site indeed to ever see him lose a game, even when competing with the very best in pool tournaments.

Ronnie was a wonderful Husband, Father, Grandfather, and well loved and respected by countless family members and friends. He was an active member for many years with several horseback riding and trail riding groups. The most prominent and Ronnie's favorite is the greater Houston's regionally famed Salt Grass Trail Riders Association where he was often driving the mules or draft horses to a wagon. If not driving a wagon Ronnie was the Cowboy renowned for always taking pictures of all the riders on the memorable trail rides for so many years.

Ronnie will be sorely missed by many.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Fritsche Cemetery Association in Cypress, TX, located next to Ronnie and Claudia's Primrose Ranch, where he will be laid to rest.  Please send donation to:

Roland Dossman

President of the Neudorf Fritsche Cemetery Association

17002 Shaw Rd.

Cypress, TX  77429