James A. “Buddy” Smith, of Port Acres, passed on to meet Jesus on Sunday, October 11, 2009 at Harbor Hospice one month after his 80th birthday.
He was the most loving husband, dad, pawpaw, father-in-law, brother-in-law, friend and devoted uncle to all his nephews and nieces. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from January 12, 1951-December 7, 1952. He worked at Jefferson Chemical/Texaco Chemical where he was a supervisor for 42 years, until his retirement in 1989.
He was preceded in death by his son, James Jerome Smith, his parents, Arnold and Marie Smith, in-laws Claude and Lorena Richard, sisters, Rosa Bell Lott and Eula Mae Powell, and great granddaughter, Anna Burton. He is survived by his devoted and loving family; wife, Claudia “Toot” Smith of 54 years, son, James Richard “JR” Smith and wife Annette of Little Cypress; daughters, Twyla Darder and husband Vince of Colmesneil, and Shanda Hebert and husband Randy of Groves; granddaughter, Heather Burton and husband Allen of Port Neches; grandsons, JR Smith of Cypress Fairbanks, Cameron Smith of Little Cypress, Sean and Brendan Hebert of Groves, Garrett Darder of Colmesneil; great grandsons, Kody, Kaleb, Kade and Karter Burton of Port Neches. Special sisters and brothers-in-law Della and Boogie Edgerly of Port Acres, Julie and Derryl Stutes of Port Neches, Tammy and Randy Maturin of Maurice, La, Butch and Linda Richard of Fannett, brother-in-law, Eugene Powell of Nederland. Also many nieces, nephews and wonderful friends. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Harbor Hospice Foundation in Beaumont, Tx. The family would like to thank the staff at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas in Port Arthur and at Harbor Hospice for their caring compassion given to our family.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at Little Flower Catholic Church in Port Acres with Rev. Rejimon E. George CMI officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Nederland under the direction of Broussard’s in Nederland. A gathering of family and friends will begin 5:00 PM Tuesday with a Christian Vigil services to start at 7:00 PM at the mortuary.
Serving as pallbearers are JR Smith, Cameron Smith, Sean Hebert, Brendan Hebert, Jason Stutes, Kyle Stutes, Allen Burton and Cory Edgerly.
Serving as honorary pallbearers are Pat Talbot, Willis Dore', Kody Burton, Kaleb Burton, Garrett Darder, Derryl Stutes, Boogie Edgerly, Randy Maturin, Numa "Butch" Richard.
