Lawson "Smitty" Monroe Smith, Jr.

Lawson “Smitty”  Monroe Smith, Jr., 88, of Wharton went to be with the Lord and Savior on Sunday, December 29, 2019 following a lengthy illness.  He was born on Christmas day of 1931 in Mahoney, Texas to the late Lawson M. Smith Sr. and Alma Cain Smith.

Smitty was raised in the Mahoney area and graduated from the area high school.  He then served our nation honorably in the United States Air Force.  He met and married JoAnn Gard Smith on November 23, 1990 in Copperfield.  Smitty was known as the man who could fix anything and was always tinkering with something.  He was a certified welder, owner of a newspaper in Port Lavaca at one time and was owner/operator of LST Sales and Primerica Financial Services.  In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting and fishing.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Robert Smith, sister, Charlene Reese and stepson, Mark Edward Fleming.

He is survived by his wife of 29 years, JoAnn of Wharton, daughter Linda Smith Carlton of Mauriceville; son, David Smith and wife, Cecil of Mauriceville; brother, Huey Smith and wife, Louise of Sulphur Springs; grandchildren, Jeremiah Smith, Maya Brown and husband, Josh; stepdaughter, Lesa Shanks of Mississippi; step-sons, Tommy Mason of Ohio,  Alan Fleming and wife, Melanie of Midland; step-grandchildren, Lance Fleming, Lauren Kalama and husband, Josh; step- great grandchildren, Alyson Fleming and Kynoah Kalama.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. on  Saturday, January  4, 2020 at Wharton Funeral Home with a Funeral Service to follow at 10 a.m. with Rev. Casey Dubose officiating. Serving as pallbearers were Al Horvath, John Hobbins, Freddie Southall, Ernest Giesee, Charles Grant and Matt Hurley.   Interment to follow at Wharton Cemetery in Wharton, TX.

In lieu of flowers the family ask donations to be made to College Heights Baptist Church in Wharton.

Funeral services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at whartonfuneralhome.com