Arthur Guy Smith went to be with Jesus on Saturday, July 6, 2024 in Lake Jackson, at the age of 87. He was born on January 19, 1937 in Bronson, where he spent his childhood and most of his adult life, then moved to Lake Jackson in 2014. He is preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Ola Mae Smith, his parents, John F. & Martha Smith, and his siblings Sam, Mary, Hazel, Otis, Gail, Billy, E.C. & Leonard. He is survived by his son, Dennis Smith (Melinda) of Pittsburg, and his daughter Kathy Pickering (Greg) of Lake Jackson, his grandchildren, Michael Pickering (Noelle) of Georgetown, Jeffrey Pickering (Chelsea) of Washington, DC, and Kathryn Smith of Ithaca, New York, and his great grandchildren Haddon, Liam, Lincoln, Madelyn, and Graham, and his brother Bob of Port LaVaca.

The youngest of ten brothers and sisters, he was born and raised on the same plot of land where, in adulthood, after his years of military service, he would return to start a family, grow a garden, raise livestock, and host countless fish fries, barbecues, and Thanksgivings. He served his country in the United States Air Force, joining as an eager teenager in 1954 and was honorably discharged as a married man a few years later. He met Ola Mae Hoffmann while stationed in St. Louis, MO on a blind double date set up by their friends because he had a car. They would marry soon after with a one week engagement and spend their first year of marriage apart as he deployed. Then they moved back to his hometown in the East Texas Pineywoods and opened Art’s Grocery & Station, a family business they operated for 25 years with the slogan, “Be smart, buy from Art.” After that Art began a new career at Temple-Inland where he was a supervisor until his retirement in 1996.

He is remembered as a loving and generous Granddad to his grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as so many others he welcomed through his home, around his chiminea fire, and into his family. He enjoyed tending to his land and making marbles boards for friends. He was a faithful church member where he served as a music minister and other leadership roles. He loved to gather his community — he and Ola welcomed people into their home with much love and ease. To know Art Smith was to know his work ethic and high expectations for a job done right, always in the service of others. Though he was a man of few words, he could always be counted on for an entertaining story.

He will be laid to rest at the Bronson Cemetery in Bronson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First Baptist Pineland (112 Timberland Hwy, Pineland, TX 75968), Brazos Pointe Fellowship (679 TX-332, Lake Jackson, TX 77566), and Bronson Cemetery (P.O. Box 398, Pineland, TX 75968).

A graveside memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at the Bronson Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.

Services are under the direction of Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home of Jasper.