Rev. Mr. M.R. Smith, Sr.

Thanks and praise be to God for the life and gift of Rev. Mr. M.R. "Boobie" Smith, Sr., age 79. He was a retired Deacon of St. Helen Catholic Church, Orangefield. Boobie, beloved father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend died Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 10:36 a.m. at The Medical Center of Southeast Texas in Port Arthur. His Catholic funeral mass will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. Monday, April 12, 2010 at St. Helen Catholic Church in Orangefield under the direction of Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. The Most Reverend Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, S.V.D., D.D. will celebrate the mass with the support of several other priests and deacons of the Diocese of Beaumont. Interment and Graveside Services will follow at Autumn Oaks Memorial Park in McLewis Community, Orange. Visitation will be held Sunday, April 11, 2010 at St. Helen Catholic Church in Orangefield from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Wake Service during the interval from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Born April 19, 1930 in Port Arthur Texas, Boobie was the son of James Edward Smith and Artemease Ellender Smith. Boobie joined the U.S. Marine Corp in August 1948 and served his country in the Korean War. After his honorable discharge from Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, he returned home to the love of his life, Betty Romero Smith. In 1963 he and Betty moved their family to the McLewis Community where he lived for 47 years. He worked at the Gulf Oil Refinery as a welder until his retirement in 1984. He also found time to build many homes in the area. However, building the library at St. Helen's with his beloved Betty was his most cherished accomplishment and truly a labor of their love for God and each other.

Boobie was preceded in death in 1999 by Betty, his wife of 47 years; his parents; oldest son, Sydney "Scooter" Smith; brothers, Norman "Son" Smith; sisters, Lena Smith Myers, Sue Smith Kemp, and Jo Eddie Smith Billiot. Boobie is survived by his brother Gene E. Smith of Buna; sister Julia "Pookie" Massey of Nederland; sons and daughters-in-law, Kirk Lynn Smith and Julie LeMaire Smith of Orange, and M.R. "Robbie" Smith, Jr. and Cindy Reed Smith of Orange; and daughter and son-in-law Kristi Marie Smith Wernig and Marcus D. Wernig of Orange. Also surviving Boobie are his grandchildren Dillon Smith, Kelsey Smith, T.K. Smith, Jr., M.R. "Rob" Smith, III, Eric Hebert, Jerett Hebert, Tyler Worsham, Kirby Clayton, Mary Catherine Wernig, and Madeleine Wernig.

Serving as Pallbearers will be nephews Lonnie Romero, Sr. and Kenny Romero; and grandsons, Dillon Smith, Rob Smith, T.K. Smith, and Tyler Worsham.

Those wishing to make memorial donations are requested to contribute to St. Helen's Building Fund at: St. Helen Catholic Church, 8105 FM 1442, Orange, TX 77630.