Howard "Peebie" Smith

On April 6, 2013, Howard Perry “Peebie” Smith, of McGregor, passed away peacefully at Westview Manor Nursing Home in McGregor, Texas. Services will be held at 10am Wednesday, April 10th at Grace Gardens Funeral Home in Waco, Texas with Eddie Chance officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco. Visitation with the family will be held at Grace Gardens Funeral Home from 6pm to 8pm on Tuesday April 9th.

Howard was born on September 23, 1920 in Valley Mills, Texas to Frank Hill and Willie Howard Smith. He moved to Waco as a young child and graduated from Waco High in 1939. While there he played for Paul Tyson on the Waco High Tigers football team. Following his graduation he joined the family business, Frank Smith & Sons, where he worked diligently until his retirement in 1977. During WWII, he served as a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force. On October 13, 1945 he married the love of his life and the woman who would remain faithfully by his side for 67 years, Dorothy Alice Busby. After his retirement he continued to farm and ranch on his family’s land in McGregor and Leroy. An avid outdoorsman, he hunted and fished with some of the best men in Central Texas: Charlie Tull, Mocco Embry, Virgil Walker, Purcell Lupton, Eddie Umphries, Golladay Stratton, Bernie Smith, Sonny Selaro, and Dennis Smith. One of his favorite hobbies was shooting skeet with his son David, and being a member of the best five-man skeet shooting team Central Texas had ever seen. At the time of his death he was President of Frank Smith Properties, a lifetime member of the Central Texas Rifle & Pistol Club, and a member of Crestview Church of Christ in Waco.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Hill and Willie Howard Smith and his brothers: Claude L. Smith, Frank Barrett Smith, Morris Madden Smith, and Billy Joe Smith.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dorothy Alice Busby Smith, a daughter, Alice Diana Smith, son, David Perry Smith and wife Debi, and son Randy Howard Smith and wife Wendy. Seven grandchildren: James Howard Crenshaw and wife Jessica, Lani Rust and husband Mac, Meredith Cockrell and husband Clint, Ryan Howard Smith, Morgan Smith, Lexi Smith and Rainy Smith. Three great-grandchildren: Madison Perry Rust, Halle Rust, and Boe Crenshaw, and numerous Nieces and nephews.

Honorary Pallbearers will be: Keith Ferguson, Bernie Smith, Wilburn Dodd and M.A. Horton.

Howard’s family would like to extend their sincerest thanks to the caregivers at Westview Manor Nursing Home and Bluebonnet Hospice.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donation be made to a charity of your personal choosing.