Marvin J. Smith

Marvin J. "Smitty" Smith, 78, of Abilene, died Tuesday, June 09, 2009 at a local hospital. Funeral services, with Rev. Larry Tarver officiating, will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 12, 2009 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Smitty was born in Alvarado, Texas to Otto and Susan (Witt) Smith on March 18, 1931. He attended Pascal High School, Draughn's Business College and TCU. Marvin served in the United States Army in Korea for about two years. Smitty met his future wife, Betty Jo Stapleton, at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas in 1948. They dated for two years and married on July 3, 1950 in Ft. Worth, Texas. Their first son, Larry R. Smith, was born March 19, 1953. The couple's second son, Jack M. Smith was born December 17, 1956. The family moved to Abilene from Ft. Worth in January 1960 and started the family business known as "Smitty's Auto Supply." Betty and their two sons worked in the family business at various times. The business was closed in January 1993 and Marvin retired after 33 years of operation. Smitty and Betty loved to travel in their motor home with the Eager Beaver Good Sam's and the FMCA Roughnecks. They saw much of the United States during many years of traveling in their motor home. After retirement, he also enjoyed Saturday Night Stock Car Races at The Abilene Speedway. Smitty was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Marvin was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty, on September 17, 2005; two brothers, Charles and Joe Smith; and two sisters, Lenna Smith Grayson and Louise Smith Francisco. He is survived by two sons, Larry R. Smith and his wife, Sondra and Jack M. Smith and his wife, Karen, all of Abilene; two granddaughters, Darla R. Smith, of Abilene, Kayla M. Slack and her husband, Scott, also of Abilene; two grandsons, Jason M. Smith and his wife Jennifer, of Ft. Worth, and Daryl R. Smith, of Abilene; and three great-grandchildren, Madisyn Slack, Dylan Slack and Raylen Smith. The family wishes to express their appreciation to Hendrick's Trauma Center and ICU and Dr. Steven Brown and Dr. Chad Ezzell. Bill Seals, Vince Ogle, Kelly Allen, Lance Shaw, Justin Shaw, Rob Poor, Robert Pittman and Chris England will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Combs, Eldon Renfro, Jim Fisher, Mickey Gilbreth, Jimmy Marmaduke and Dick Kinney. Memorials may be made in honor of Marvin J. "Smitty" Smith to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory Street, Abilene, Texas 79601; or to the American Cancer Society, 209 S. Danville, Bldg. B, Ste 107, Abilene, Texas 79605.