Living

Notes:

Robert Perry "Country" Smith, 85, of Milam, TX, passed away June 30, 2019. Born on August 24, 1933 to Obediah Hillis Smith and Elsie Hoffman Smith, in Milam, TX, he grew up in Beaumont, TX, but would always feel the pull of his birthplace over the years.

Robert attended South Park High School and graduated in 1950. He met his sweetheart, Junell Fore, and they married in 1951. He worked in the oil and gas industry and moved multiple times from Beaumont to Louisiana and to west Texas, before settling in Vidor, TX where he and Junell raised their three sons. His employment led him to Sulphur, LA where he retired from PPG Industries. After Junell's death in 1993, Robert married his current love, Lennie Webb.

Robert and Lennie moved to his childhood home of Milam, TX, where he pursued his pleasures of hunting, fishing, working on his property, being a member of Bethany Baptist Church and staying dutifully active in Masonic studies and activities, which he has done his whole adult life. A man of integrity and honesty, Robert was a member of the several Masonic lodges and espoused education and volunteerism.

Robert is preceded in death by his mother Elsie Hoffman Smith, father Obediah Hillis Smith, brothers William Hillis Smith, James Edward Smith, sister Marie Smith Roma; and his former wife Junell Fore Smith. He is survived by his wife Lennie Webb Smith, brothers John Terry Smith and Walter Truett Smith, his sons Robert Perry Smith, Jr. (of Nashville, TN), Clay Allen Smith (of Leesville, LA), and Justin Blane Smith (of Houston, TX), son-in-law Kevin Johnson, former daughter-in-law Gena Purkey Smith Boyte, grandson Grayson Fielding Smith and granddaughter Alexandra Parker Smith and great grandson Braylan Adam Smith.

Visitation at Starr Funeral Home in Hemphill, TX on Tuesday, July 2 from 5-9 pm. Funeral service Wednesday, July 3, at Starr Funeral home at 10 am. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery Wednesday, July 3 at 2 pm in Beaumont, TX. Donations my be made in Robert's honor to the American Cancer Society or Masonic Lodge.

(Copied from his FindAGrave memorial page, also published in the Sabine County Reporter, July 10, 2019, page 8)

Robert married Junell Fore on 9 Jun 1951 in Jefferson County, Texas. Junell was born on 16 Jun 1933 in Jefferson County, Texas; died on 29 Oct 1994 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Texas Birth index shows her as a daughter of Lewis Pearl FORE and Maude Mattie FOX. She is also linked to them on FindAGrave, which also has listings for five siblings.

Notes:

His Texas Death certificates shows his usual occupation as Plant Protection for Bethlehem Steel and Ship Building. Informant was his wife. Their residence was 1596 Pipkin in Beaumont.

Obediah married Elsie M. Hoffman. Elsie was born on 4 Oct 1897 in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri; died on 19 Sep 1989; was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

At the time of the 1940 census, Elsie was living with her husband's parents and her children in Sabine County, Texas. Her husband was not present in the home at that time.

(Research):The Texas birth certificate of her sons, John Terry and James Edward Smith, both listed her place of birth as Kansas City, MO.

Notes:

Informant on his Texas Death certificate, an image which can be seen on his FIndAGrave memorial page, shows his usual occupation as farmer, and the informant was his namesake son.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 2
Enumerated 25 and 26 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 132 Sheet 6B
106-106
Smith, Hillis Head M W 41 M1 20 Tx La Tx Farmer
Smith, Sallie Wf F W 37 m1 20 3/3 Tx US US Farm Laborer Home Farm
Smith, Hillis Son M W 12 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Smith, Bertie Dtr F W 7 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 4
Enumerated 12 and 13 January 1920
SD 326 ED 171 Sheets 6A and 6B
119-120
Smith, Obadiah H Head M W 52 M Tx La Al Farmer
Smith, Sarah E Wf F W 48 M Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Obadiah H Son M W 22 S Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Smith, Bertie E Dtr F W 16 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Lockie P Dtr-in-law F W 29 M Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Mathew H Grandson M W 11 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Madie M Granddtr F W 9 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, J. T. Grandson M W 6 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Hazel M Granddaughter F W 1 7/12 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Clifford Boarder M W 46 M Ga Ga Ga Foreman Lumber Mill
Smith, Clifford Boarder M W 24 S Tx Tx Tx Nightwatchman Lumber Mill
Smith, Nathan O Boarder M W 17 S Tx Tx Tx Laborer Lumber Mill

Obediah married Sarah Elizabeth "Sallie" Mason. Sarah (daughter of Napolean Bonaparte Mason and Mary Bethany "Susan" Terry) was born on 7 May 1872 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 31 Jan 1955 in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas; was buried in Fairmount Cemetery, Yellowpine, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name: Sarah Elizabeth Smith
Death Date: 31 Jan 1955
Death Place: Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: White
Death Age: 82 years 8 months 24 days
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 07 May 1872
Birthplace: Sabine County, Texas
Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: N.B. Mason
Father's Birthplace: Texas
Mother's Name: Susan Terry
Mother's Birthplace: Texas
Informant: John Thomas Smith
Occupation: Housewife
Place of Residence:
Cemetery: Fairmont, Texas Cemetery
Burial Place: Fairmont, Texas
Burial Date: 01 Feb 1955
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2114330
Digital Film Number: 4165420
Image Number: 3205
Reference Number: 3077
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976


(Medical):See attached sources.