Fred K Smith Jr.

Fredrick Kearby Smith Jr. (Snuffy Smith) beloved father, grandfather, great & great great grandfather passed away Thursday October 11, 2018 in Clifton, Texas at the age of 85.  Fred was born August 9, 1933 in Quanah, Texas.  He was the son of the late Fredrick Kearby Smith Sr. and Viola Olga Knight Smith of Cisco.

He was a member of the Cisco High School Football Team and graduated from Cisco High School in 1952.

He married his high school sweetheart of 66 years Opal Whitehead Smith.  Fred was listed in the U. S. Army with the 25th Recon Battalion 4th Armored Division in Fort Hood, Texas where he received 3 Expert Marksman Awards and was a long time devoted United States veteran.  He served 4 years in the National Guard and served as a 33rd Degree Mason of the Scottish Rite & was a Shriner.

He began his career on a paper route at the age of 9, served as a station attendant and worked on the pipeline between Cisco and Eastland.  He worked for WTU in Abilene and was the Data Processing Manager for the City of Abilene. He also worked for Sysco Food, Wholesale Food Service and was Regional Sales Director of Mclane Food Services before retiring.

He was a member of the Abilene Jaycees & State Director of the Texas Jaycees.  He served on the board of Oakwood Cemetery.  He was selected Who’s Who in the South and Southwest. He was a member of the Cisco Ex Gi’s Association. Fred was active in the Abilene Bass Club, Cooper Cougars Booster Club, USA Golden Gloves Boxing Association, Abilene Little League Association and was a Eagle Scout.  He was a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and received the Defender of Freedom Award NRA Golden Eagles.  He was active in the PTA and one of the organizer for the Alta Vista Chili Suppers. He served as a deacon at the Elmwood West United Methodist Church in Abilene. He was a member of the FUMC Cisco, in the church choir and drove the church van. Fred built a beautiful tall wooden cross by hand that adorns the FUMC church sanctuary each Easter.

Fred spent many years of his life enjoying the place he loved most on beautiful Lake Cisco, camping out in the caves, boating, fishing, swimming, hunting and jumping off the high dive at the World’s Largest Swimming Pool.  An avid fisherman, Fred could bait a worm and catch the world’s largest bass in record time, winning many bass tournaments throughout his lifetime.  He loved God and his family dearly.  Fred always made vacations, holidays and cookouts so memorable.  Fred loved to build things and would spend many hours tinkering in his workshop and enjoying his dog Duke.  He loved people and was known for his hard work, perseverance, strength of endurance, witty sense of humor and wonderful personality.  Everyone was always welcomed in his home.  He made a wonderful impact on many people and never met a stranger.

Fred was preceded in death by his father Fredrick Kearby Smith Sr., his mother Viola Olga Knight Smith and his sister Beulah Jean Smith.  He is survived by his wife of 66 years Opal Whitehead Smith, 6 children, Fredda J. Fox of New Port Richey, Florida, Fredrick Kearby Smith III and wife Theresa of Tacoma Washington, Mary Ann Smith of Cranfills Gap, Texas, Mark A. Smith of Cisco, Texas, Jeanni Smith Talley and husband Tim Talley of Clifton, Texas and Crystal Smith of Cisco, Texas.  Fred has 14 Grandchildren, 27 Great grandchildren, and 7 Great Great grandchildren.

Pallbearers are:  Mason Baxley, Nathan Baxley, Grant Baxley, Isaac Valadez, Lee Sinderud, Kearby Richter, Vincent McCleskey.

Funeral Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Cisco Wednesday October 17 at 10:00am with a military and Scottish Rite honors burial immediately following at Oakwood Cemetery in Cisco.  Kimbrough Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements with Visitation on Tuesday October 16 5:00-7:00pm.

Memorials may be made to Fred’s favorite charity: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.

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