Martha Wathen Smith

Martha Wathen Smith passed peacefully surrounded by her family at home on Thursday, March 24, 2022.

Martha was first and foremost a wife and partner to her husband, Loyd, a highly respected and much-loved physician in Beaumont for many years. He ran his practice with more than a little assistance from Martha; to put it simply: he was the man he was because she was beside him.

Martha found her greatest calling as a mother, raising six children of her own and sharing that love through multiple generations. As her children had children of their own, she offered an unconditional open door to her nine grandchildren (not to mention their spouses, who loved her stories and the occasional glass of Cognac). Martha also had seven great-grandchildren who adored her and gave her joy up until the final days of her beautiful life.

If success was measured in love, Martha had wealth beyond measure. She was much loved and will be greatly missed.

Beloved wife of the late Loyd C. Smith, loving mother of Linda (Enzo), Leslie, Martha (Jimmy), Mary, Traci (Jeff), and Loyd Jr. (Erica), cherished grandmother of Douglas, Sarah (Taylor), Colleen (Nick), Shannon (Darin), Kristin, Laurie (Chris), Alexander, Cole, and Caitlin, and great-grandmother of William, Samantha, Hank, Leo, Emma, Patrick, and Lyric. Martha was also preceded in death by her dear siblings, Evan, William, Thurman, Mary, and James.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at Calder Baptist Church in Beaumont. Officiating will be Dr. Jim Fuller. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2022, at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to Calder Baptist Church, 1005 N. 11th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77002.