Bessie Smith Galaway

Bessie Smith Galaway, age 97, passed away Sunday, October 5, 2008 at The Meadows. Services are scheduled for 10:00 AM Saturday, October 11, 2008 at Scott’s Funeral Home Chapel with Deral McWhorter officiating. Burial will follow at Smith Cemetery in Purmela. The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 PM Friday at the funeral home. Bessie Smith Galaway was born April 6, 1911 in Pearl, Texas to James Hardy and Elouise Jones Nabors. She was a long time member of the Church of Christ. Bessie was the oldest of three children. Brothers Robert Lonis (Pete) who preceded her in death and Jack Nabors of Pearl. She grew up and attended school in the Purmela and Pearl areas. Bessie married Clynton Bailey Smith on October 29, 1930 and they continued to live in the same communities until Bailey’s death in 1952. After Bailey’s death, Bessie earned her beautician’s license and moved to Evant where she opened and operated a beauty shop across from the high school. In 1963, she met and married P. R. (Slim) Galaway and He moved to Evant while continuing to work in Killeen. While visiting friends in Arkansas, Slim fell in love with the state and convinced Bessie to move there. Together they bought a farm, raised cattle and spent 22 years there. In 1995 they sold their farm and moved to Gatesville on Strawsmill Road. Slim passed away in October of 1997. Bessie continued to live on Strawsmill Road until July of 2001 when she, because of failing health, moved to North Richland Hills near her daughter. In late 2003 Bessie moved to Moody and lived with her daughter for a short period of time. In early 2004, Bessie came to Gatesville and became a resident of The Welcome Program and later a resident of The Meadows where she lived until her death. Bessie liked to be remembered as an outstanding basketball player during her high school days. She enjoyed watching Bailey play baseball during the early years of their marriage. And it has been reported that she could throw a pretty mean ball herself. She was delighted when she was able to attend a game in the Astrodome. While living on Strawsmill Road, Deral McWhorter had a hard time keeping her in her place while playing dominoes. Bessie and Bailey had four children. The first born boy, a still birth was followed by the birth of two daughters, Donella Smith Wood of Gatesville and J. Q. Smith Manos of North Richland Hills, and one son, James Clynton Smith of Evant and one step-son, Gerald Galaway of Idaho. Each of her three living children gave her two grandchildren: Regan Moore Walker of Austin, Misty Manos Grimm of Carrollton, Rayna Smith Butler of Brownwood, Mitchum Slade Manos of Dallas, Whitney Moore Schwoyer of Flower Mound and Sumer Smith Alexander of Evant. Other survivors include four great grandchildren; Lucas Grimm, Gentry Grimm Zeltra, Hayden Grimm and Drake Manos, two step grandchildren, Gerald Wayne Galaway and Katrina Jamison, two step great grandsons; Christian and Luke Schwoyer. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Cedar Ridge Church of Christ in Gatesville.