Myrna Ann Smith, 76, of Port Arthur, died Tuesday, June 24, 2014. On September 1, 1937, Myrna was born to Louis and Ida Mae Hebert. She was the oldest of three children. She had a sister, Wendolyn, and a brother, Louis. Myrna attended elementary school at St. Mary Catholic School and high school at Bishop Byrne. While in high school, she was invited to a surprise birthday party and urged to dance with the birthday boy, Herbert, and the "fairy tale" began. On August 25, 1956, they were married at St. Mary Catholic Church. They were blessed with five children; Michael, Rhonda, Kelly, Sondra, and Pat.

You could often find Myrna in the kitchen cooking up dinner for an army. She had that special knack for showing her love through her cooking.

Mom not only made sure all of her kids went to St. Joseph Catholic School; she was a constant fixture at many of the school's events. She was most known for her cotton candy swirling skills.

Myrna was also the one who made her Volkswagen van available for pickup and delivery for kids and adults alike.

Mom loved singing, whether it was in church or at home. She was always in her "happy place" when her grandkids were around. You could find her dancing and singing in the living room to Eddy Raven with a grandbaby in her arms. All of her grandchildren felt a special bond with her and love her dearly.

Mom and Dad spent a great deal of their time traveling. Often they traveled with friends. Some of our fondest memories are of a month-long trip we took as a family. Many trips were made with grandkids to places of their dreams.

Mom was a true role model of how to be a kind, loving, honest person. She taught us how to love unconditionally and with your whole heart. An example of these lessons was when she was at her worst, Dad could walk into the room and her face would light up. She didn't always know his name, but she always knew exactly who he was. She found her "soul mate" in High School and for fifty-eight years, he remained her one true love...and her his.

Myrna is survived by her husband, Herbert Smith; daughters, Rhonda Roberts and her husband, Chris, of Groves and Sondra LeBlanc and her husband, Kirk, of Lumberton; sons, Michael Smith of Port Arthur and Pat “J.P.” Smith and his wife, Kellie, of Nederland; daughter-in-law, Lori Romero Smith of Canyon Lakes; grandchildren, Duncan Meece, Chase Smith, Chance LeBlanc, Keaton LeBlanc, and Dylan Smith; and brother, Louis Hebert of Groves.

She is preceded in death by her son, Kelly Smith; and sister, Wendolyn Baker.

A gathering of Mrs. Smith’s family and friends will begin at 5:00 p.m., with a Christian Vigil at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 26, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 4600 Procter Street, Port Arthur. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery, Port Arthur, under the direction of Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland.

She was and always will be the light in our lives...she will forever be in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.