James M. (Junior) Smith, Jr.

James M. (Junior) Smith, Jr., age 88, of Gatesville passed away Wednesday, July 23, 2014. Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 25, 2014 at Turnersville Cemetery with Minister Deral McWhorter officiating. Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 24, 2014 at the funeral home. Junior was born on June 4, 1926 in Fairy, Texas to the late Melvie Smith, Sr., and Maggie Overcash Smith. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He married Helen Baize on October 17, 1947. Junior resided in Gatesville until 1973, moving to Mart and back to Gatesville in 2000. He was a farmer and rancher and worked for 13 years at Rocketdyne. He was a member of Cedar Ridge Church of Christ. Junior is survived by his wife of 66 years, Helen Smith; sons, Jim Smith and Randy Smith and wife, Kathy, all of Gatesville; daughters, Dianne Gidley and husband, Johnny of Salado and Janet Whitt and husband, Danny of Gatesville; brother, George Smith of Spring; seven grandchildren, Kevin Smith, Chad Smith, Brandon Whitt, Jeff Smith, Jamie Whitt, Mandy Smith, and Kaitlin Shaw; and 16 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Cedar Ridge Church of Christ, 104 Cedar Ridge Road, Gatesville, TX 76528.