On December 27, 1936, Herbert Michael Smith was born to Herbert and Hazel Smith.   He was the oldest of two children.  He had a sister Marilyn.  Herbert attended elementary school at St. James Catholic School and High School at Bishop Byrne. 

  As a child and young boy Dad loved to play baseball, go camping, hunt, and just about anything outdoors.  They spent many nights at the movie theatre. 

  As I sat down to write I realized that I was trying to do an impossible task.  How do you put into words what a man as extraordinary as our Dad meant to us and so many others? 

  We grew up in a home where love was always present.  The love between our parents was like no other I have ever seen.  It was as if they were truly one...the term "soul mates" comes to mind.  What a great example they gave to us and so many others of what a marriage is meant to be.  They were always there for each and us as we grew up.

  "Love is patient, love is kind.  It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it is not quick tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth." 

                                                                            1 Corinthians 4-6

  We were truly blessed growing up having a Dad that was involved in our lives.  The time we spent together will be the memories we hold dear to our hearts forever.

  Our life was truly one adventure after another.  I will never forget the day that Dad's coaching career began...truly by accident.  We were at one of Kelly's ballgames waiting for his game to start and apparently Dad didn't like the way the coach was talking to and treating the team...not just Kelly but the whole team.  So he took a little stroll over to the dugout and after I'm sure a few choice words out walked the coach and the next thing we knew Dad was surrounded by a team of boys with grins from ear to ear.  He was just that kind of man, always standing up for what he believed was right.

  "Be on your guard, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done with love."   1 Corinthians 13-14

  We spent many nights out at that ball field.

  Dad not only coached Kelly and Pat's teams but played ball years himself.  Many wonderful friendships were made out at those games and many have remained over the years. 

  There was never a child in our neighborhood that couldn't come up and not have an opportunity to join in on a basketball or football game in our backyard.  Now I'm not saying they would always leave happy because we played to win.  There were many scuffles out in that backyard and on the court but they always seemed to come to an end with a little help from Dad.  He always made sure that we had room on a team no matter how good or bad a kid was but it did matter what team that kid ended up on.

  "Train a boy in the way he should go: and even when he is old, he will not swerve from it."  Proverbs 22:6

 I can't tell you how many times friends of ours talk about those games with Dad in the back yard with smiles on their faces.

  We spent a lot of time as a family on the tennis court in a friendly game of tennis....oh who am I trying to kid we tried to kill each other out on the court.  We all dreaded Dad's evil backhand shot.

  Many hot summer days we would spend crabbing and them come home to cook up a feast.  Days at the beach where we would dine on the most delicious sand crusted hot dogs ever.  Don't forget the burnt to a crisp marshmallows that Mom and Dad would always be hungry for so we wouldn't have to eat them. 

  We spent many of our vacations traveling and camping in our pop-up camper.  For three to four years Dad and Mom saved and planned for a month long trip that we took in that camper.  Those were some of our favorite times ever.  Many life lessons were taught sitting around those campfires. 

  As we grew older we still gathered around the table at Dad and Mom's house for family gatherings and love being shared.  They truly made the saying..."there's no place like home” true to all of us.

   As we got married our spouses were welcomed into our home and into our parents hearts as their own.  Dad always made sure that they were treated just as we were, as his own sons and daughters.  How many families can say that about their parents and the love they shared.  As a matter of fact you always knew that if you went to Dad for advice he didn't automatically take your side over your spouse....more times than not he would take theirs.  Dad wasn't just a Father-in-law he was another Dad in their eyes.

  Dad's love just grew when his grandkids were born.  All the things he did with us as kids growing up he did with our boys.  Duncan, Chase, Chance, Keaton, and Dylan were loved beyond measure.  They have so many wonderful memories that will be carried with them in their hearts.  We thank God that our boys had such an incredible role model watching Dad as they grew up.  We can only hope that we have raised our children even half as well as we were raised...Mom and Dad set the bar high. 

  Dad has always been a "hero" in our eyes but when Mom got sick and became bedridden the term "super hero" couldn't have fit any better.  He took such loving care of her for as no other could have.  No matter how bad a day she might have been having when he walked into the room her eyes would just light up.  The love they shared was a true gift from above.  He never left her side and never ever complained while he was there.

  "Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things."   1 Corinthians 13:7

  I know I have in no way even come close to telling how great of a man God gave to us as a father but I hope this in some way lets you see another side of our Dad.  We had several people who were with Hospice tell us that they could actually feel the love in the room when we were talking about our childhood and our love for Dad and Mom.  You see it isn't hard to share that love because that's the only way we knew....we were taught to love others...so that is how we live our lives.  We thank all of you for the love you have shared with Dad and we ask that God blesses each of you for that love. 

We find peace, Dad knowing that you are now in Heaven reunited with the love of your life, your soulmate, your best friend, your forever love, Mom.  We can just imagine that twinkle in your eyes when Mom was there waiting at the gates of Heaven with open arms.  We know Kelly was there with Maw Maw and Paw Paw as well as all those you loved that have gone on before you. 

We will miss you Daddy...your sweet smile, your loving touch, your shoulder to lean on or cry on which ever was needed if not both.  Your advice that you would always give to us even though you knew you would have to surely give it to us over and over again.  Always knowing that no matter what we needed any time day or night all we had to do was pick up the phone and you would come running.  The phone calls, the visits, the moments we watched you with our boys, the laughs, the never ending picking on each other with your witty comebacks.  But most of all Dad, we will miss your endless love....it knew no boundaries.  We will carry on the love you gave us and will try to love and live as you and Mom taught us....if people ask us why we do things the way we do we will just smile and say, "We're carrying on a family tradition."

  We love you Daddy and know that we will see you again one day.....until then; we will rely on all that you taught us and give thanks to God for all of our blessings.  We love you to Heaven and back!

 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain...."

       Revelation 21:4

Survivors include his 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 Lake; sister, Marilyn Ienna and her husband, Carlo, of Boerne; and grandchildren, Duncan Meece; Chase Smith and his wife, Emily; Chance LeBlanc; Keaton LeBlanc; and Dylan Smith.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Myrna Ann Smith; and son, Kelly Smith.

   A gathering of Mr. Smith’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with a Rosary recited at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 4, 2015, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m., Thursday, November 5, 2015, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 4600 Procter Street, Port Arthur, with interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery, Port Arthur.

 Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Smith’s memory to St. Joseph Church General Fund, 4600 Procter Street, Port Arthur, Texas 77642.