Johnny C. Smith Obituary
Johnny C. Smith, 90, of Ruidoso, New Mexico, passed away at his home, on Friday, September1, 2023, with his wife, Mary, and his son, James, by his side. A "Celebration of his Life" will be held with a graveside service on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at 10:30am at Oakwood Cemetery, 200 Front Street, Cisco, Eastland County, Texas.
Johnny was born in Cisco, Texas in 1933 to John Thomas and Lillie Odessa Moss Smith. He was the eighth and last surviving of nine siblings. He was a 1951 Cisco Lobo graduate. He served in the Korean Conflict and was a Disabled Navy Veteran. After returning home, while working two jobs, he enrolled at Abilene Christian College and graduated with a Bachelors of Education Degree in 1962. He started his first teaching job at Rotan Junior High School where he taught math for two years. In 1964, along with the Abilene Christian College Exodus, he taught math in West Babylon Junior High and East Islip High School, Long Island, New York for four years. In 1968, he taught upper level math for two years at Hale Center High School, near Lubbock, Texas. Then in 1970, he taught math at Abilene High School, in Abilene, Texas. While teaching at Abilene High School, he acquired his Master's Degree in Counseling from Abilene Christian College. He retired from AISD as a Vocational Adjustment Coordinator and worked a total of thirty-two years in education.
Dad had a big heart to help anyone out.... picking up hitch-hikers along I-20 or taking in strangers and giving them a job, a place to live and food to eat. He loved to hunt and fish, even holding the Boone and Crockett Record in Eastland County in 1992. While in Long Island, New York, Johnny and his first wife, Shirley, supported and attended the Church of Christ. He was involved in many construction jobs both in housing and church building expansion. Almost every Saturday, you could find Johnny with both sons on the construction site of a new house.
Johnny was known as a son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather and a dedicated servant for Christ. He loved going and being in church with his brothers and sisters of Christ. He wasn't one to sit still very long, he always loved being busy and working. Dad knew how to figure things out.
Johnny is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, five sisters, his first wife of fifty-seven years, Shirley A. Smith, youngest daughter, Dana A. Horton, and his daughter-in-law, Lisa G. Smith. He is survived by his wife of eleven years, Mary Smith, of Ruidoso, New Mexico. His children, Mark Smith and wife, Kathi, Denise West and husband, Phillip, and James Smith; five grandchildren, Shaun West and wife, Lacey, Nicholas Smith, Crystal Dick and husband, Nathan, Daniel Horton and wife, Megan, Taylor Smith and wife, Melanie. Also surviving are seven great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. Johnny and Shirley were also known by the great-grandchildren as Grandpa and Grandma Goat, (because Johnny raised many, many goats)!!! In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to your favorite charity.
