Earl Pearce Smith, Sr. died January 22, 2009 at his residence in Beaumont. He was born in Shelby County on December 16, 1935 and was raised in Geneva, Texas in Sabine County. Earl was valedictorian for Hemphill High School class of 1953. After graduation he moved to Beaumont where he attended Lamar State College of Technology and graduated in 1957 with a business degree.
After serving in the United States Army, he began his career with Gulf Supply Company. He then went to work for Pipe Distributors, Inc., where he retired as Vice President after thirty five years with the company.
Earl is survived by his wife of almost fifty years, Sue Park Smith; daughter, Stephanie Smith Goss and her husband Charles of San Antonio; son, Earl “Chip” Smith,Jr. and his fiancé Danielle Kaspar of Beaumont; grandsons, whom he adored, Clayton and Dylan Goss of San Antonio and Nathan Smith of Beaumont; step mother, Ruby Smith of San Augustine; brother-in-law, Sam Short of Baton Rouge; sister, Barbara Coleman and her husband Gene of League City; and uncle and aunt, Hugh and Era Mae Smith of Corpus Christi; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Earl H. Smith; mother, Evelyn Smith Alexander; step father, Eugene Alexander; sister, Kathryn Short; and brother, Harold Smith.
Earl was a devoted husband, loving father, and trusted friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Funeral service will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, January 24, 2009 at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. A gathering of family and friends will be Friday evening January 23, 2009 from 5:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. at the mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to charity of their choice.
