Nellie Jean Smith

Nellie (Jean) Smith, 81 of Mathis, Texas passed away on October 20, 2022.  She was preceded in death by her parents Richard (Dick) Woodrow Barber and Nellie Fred Self; her brother Richard Woodrow Barber II; her husband Eugene Clay Smith and her son Mark Andrew Smith.  Jean was an elder of Lake View Baptist Church.

Jean was born in Robstown, Texas on July 26, 1941.  She met her future husband, Eugene, while working as a waitress at the Astor Restaurant in Corpus Christi.  They fell in love and were married on November 29, 1959.  They were married for 42 years.

Throughout her lifetime, Jean took on the role of caretaker.  She took in her younger brother after their parents passed away and raised him as her own, along with her three sons.  She volunteered and worked as an EMT with the Mathis Ambulance Service.  She started her nursing career as an LVN at Alice P & S Hospital.  It was not long before she continued her education and became an RN.  She worked at Riverside Hospital for many years.  She also worked in the home health field.  Jean spent the latter years of her nursing career as the Director of Nursing in several local nursing homes.  She encouraged many others to pursue their careers in the medical profession and also taught certified nursing assistant courses.

Jean enjoyed gardening as well as sewing.  When she was unable to tend to a traditional garden, she became a container gardener.  She had a porch full of vegetables in pots.  She also turned kiddie swimming pools into mini-gardens.  Jean was a wonderful cook and loved preparing meals for her family and friends especially when she could use her own fresh-grown vegetables.  Jean was an expert seamstress and sewed many of her children’s and later grandchildren’s clothes.   She also enjoyed making quilts for friends and family.  Jean also made aprons and especially enjoyed picking the perfect style, fabric and theme for each recipient.  During the pandemic, she made and gave away hundreds of masks to friends, family and strangers.  

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Jean is survived by two sons: Eugene Clay Smith Jr. (Annie) and Sidney Vance Smith (Mellissa), also her son’s widow: Sylvia Smith.  She is also survived by three grandchildren: Shannon Smith, Wesley Smith, and Ryan Smith (Angela).  Jean is also survived by her brother’s children: Peggy Sue Soliz and R.W. Barber (Brittany).  She is also survived by five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pall Bearers: Roy Smith Jr., Richard Smith, Mike Herrada, Bill Herrada, R.W. Barber and Kurt Soliz.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 am on Wednesday October 26, 2022 with the funeral service following at 11:00am at Dobie Funeral Home in Mathis, Texas.  Burial will be at Cenizo Hill Cemetery. Lake View Baptist Church will provide lunch in their fellowship hall after the graveside service.  Longtime friend and pastor, Brother Ray Waugh will officiate the service.