Johnny Smith Dosher Lamb

Johnny Smith Dosher Lamb passed from this life into eternal rest on Friday, June 22nd, her 94th birthday. A memorial service to remember her life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 29th, at Waco Memorial Park Mausoleum. Pastor Barry Camp will officiate.

Johnny Smith was the first born of Robert Smith Dosher and Jessie McMorrough Dosher. Born on June 22, 1918 in Speegleville, Texas, Johnny lived most of her life in the Waco area. She grew up in a loving Christian home with her only sibling, Elinor Ann Dosher. Johnny told stories of the many different family members who lived in her family’s home during the tough days of the Great Depression, and how the men who rode the rails would always come to her mother’s kitchen door and receive a sandwich. She also reminisced about the days of riding her horse and playing tennis with her many friends. She graduated from Waco High School in 1936 and then attended 4-C Business School in Waco. Soon she met and married a handsome young Wacoan, James Pope (J.P.) Lamb in 1937. Together they raised three sons and a daughter and shared 65 years of married life. There were times of joy, times of sorrow, times of want, and times of plenty, but through it all they were faithful to each other and their children.

Johnny was very much an involved mother through her children’s school years with PTA, Cub/Boy Scouts, Brownie/Girl Scouts, sewing, children’s sporting events, and working part time at Goldstein-Migel’s and Morris Jewelers to earn extra money for her family. When her work of child rearing was nearly complete, she went to work at Dealer’s Lighting Center, and it was there that she became interested in landscape lighting. When most people begin to dream of retirement, Johnny started her business known as Johnny Lamb Lighting. After a successful and joy filled career in landscape lighting, she decided to retire at age 80. Many of her beautiful “night scapes” can still be seen in Waco landscapes today.

Even during her years of being a small business owner, she found time to be involved in the lives of her 14 grandchildren. Johnny & J.P. loved taking their grandchildren out on their barge at Lake Waco as well as on road trips to visit relatives with lots of fun stops along the way.

Johnny was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one son James Pope (Jim) Lamb, Jr., her brother-in-law J.N. (Woody) Woodard, her nephew Jan Woodard and her sister-in-law Hattie Lamb Arthur.

She is survived by her sons Robert Lamb and wife Kathy, William (Bill) Lamb and wife Denise, and daughter Sherry Lamb Pattillo and husband Spike. She is also survived by her sister Ann Woodard, two nieces, one nephew, 14 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. Johnny leaves a legacy of love in the hearts of each of these family members. She is now rejoicing in heaven and hearing God’s commendation to her, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” To God be the Glory!