Rev. Donald Ray Smith

Reverend Donald R. Smith of Sandia, Texas went home to the Lord on Tuesday, December 31, 2019. A few days prior to his passing, Don told his family the battle was over and he had arrived at the end.

Don was born on January 9, 1942 in New Castle, Indiana. He is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Crystal Smith and his bother, Art Smith. He is survived by his wife, Joyce, sister, Jacque Goodson of New Castle, Indiana, daughters Tammy (Tim) Hermann of Bulverde, Texas, and Amy Pensyl of Portland, Texas, grandchildren Megan (Michael) Still, Jordan (Justin) Morris, Ben Hermann, Jason Hermann, Jayme Hermann, Chelsie Pensyl, and great-grandson Brayden Donald Morris.

Don gave his life to the Lord as a teenager, end entered the ministry in 1984. He pastored First Church of the Nazarene in Glenwood, Iowa, and Portland Church of the Nazarene in Portland, Texas. His devotion to his Lord and Savior was obvious to everyone he met.

He spent his retirement years living in the quiet surroundings of Pernitas Point, Texas enjoying the area wild life. He became a member of Westshore Baptist Church and grew to love that entire church family as his own.

He and Joyce were able to minister to three generations of church members during his 30+ years at the Portland Church. Among the wonderful things the Lord allowed him to do as a pastor was seeing members’ lives changed as they surrendered to God, travel to the Dominican Republic to help build a church in Barahona, and minister in homes, prisons, and orphanages across the countryside in Russia.

Don was always so proud of his daughters and each and every grandchild. Each college graduation was a special victory for him as well. When he was present to see his first great-grand child arrive, and was told he would be named for him, he felt life had truly come full circle.

To tell you all of Don’s adventures throughout his 77 years of life as we knew it here is not possible. It is enough to say he worked hard to care for his family, loved people, was a faithful servant of God, and came to the end of his life knowing that he would be going home to be with God and His son, Jesus. All who knew him felt privileged to be on this journey with him.

Visitation will be at 10am on Tuesday, January 7^th, 2020 at West Shore Baptist Church, 150 FM 534, Sandia, TX 78383. Celebration of Life Service will be officiated by Pastor Mike Colton at 11am at the West Shore Baptist Church. Pallbearers will include Tim Hermann, Ben Hermann, Jason Hermann, Justin Morris, Michael Still, Logan Hall, and Jerry Witt.

Graveside service to follow at Palms Memorial Cemetery, Portland, TX. Arrangements entrusted to Dobie Funeral Home, Mathis, TX.