Donald “Donnie” Smart

Donald Joseph Smart was born on July 12, 1932, and passed away on Saturday, May 20, 2023.  He grew up on a dairy farm in China, Texas.  After graduating high school, Donnie, as he liked to be called, met his sweetheart, Virginia, after admiring her beautiful green dress and offering her a ride home from work one day.  This car ride led to four daughters, a successful business, and a lifetime of memories.  Shortly after marrying Virginia, Donnie joined the Army.  He was stationed in Washington for a short time but ultimately ended back up in China on that same dairy he grew up on.

You can tell a lot by a man’s hands. Donnie’s hands were tough hands. They were strong hands. Those hands held Virginia.  They held his babies. They worked on engines. They showed people his way of doing things. They embraced employees as friends, some even family. They helped people in need. They built a business, a legacy. They didn’t hold a grudge. Those same hands played with his grandkids and cut grass for fun.  They came together to pray and worship the Lord. They showed many people what it meant to work hard and take pride in your work.  They taught that a man’s word was only as good as his actions.

Donnie had a tough side. He was strong-willed. You didn’t tell him he couldn’t do something. He was going to prove you wrong. It might not be exactly safe, but whatever he set his mind to, got accomplished. When he showed you how to do something, it was the right way……his way!  Donnie was a creature of habit. He had a favorite outfit……we all know THE uniform! He had favorite restaurants, with favorite tables, favorite waitresses, who brought out his preferred meals with no words spoken. Although he could mostly be found wearing his trademark Smart’s uniform, he did have a sense of style. He loved wearing his Tom Landry hats. And usually when he was seen in one of those, you knew he meant business!

With his hard side, he also had a soft side. He loved his girls. He worked hard for his family. He loved Virginia too. He always called her his sweetheart. They loved going on road trips and collecting antiques. They loved to go to Branson and see the shows. They loved having a house full of family and celebrating holidays. They loved being surrounded by their kids and grandkids and great-grandkids.

Donnie was a collector. He collected tractors. He collected fire trucks. He collected coins and knives and guns and later on…cats! He also collected lifelong friendships. Customers turned into friends, and employees became family.

He was preceded in death by his sweetheart, Ester Virginia Smart; his daughter, Judy Zavala; his great-granddaughter, Adalyn Thibodeaux; his parents, Ray Allen Smart and Clara Josephine Smart; and his sister, Delores A. Clubb.

He is survived by his daughters, Nancy Gore and husband, Alvis, of China, Texas; Susan Grohn and husband, Steve; and Donna Thibodeaux and husband, John Neves, all of Beaumont; grandsons, Kevin Gilmore and wife, Shannon, with their children, Zach and Nick; David Gilmore and wife, Marla, and their son, Dawson;  Kris Gilmore and his sons, Kason and Knox; son-in-law, Donald Zavala of Troup, Texas; grandsons, Donald Ferguson and wife, Arpita, and their children, Benjamin,  Sammi, and Liam; Clint Ferguson and wife, Anne, and their children, Lucas and Malia; David Gore and wife, Teresa, and children, Kyle and Andrew;   granddaughters, Stefanie Stallings and husband, Curtis, and their children, Micah, Katelyn, and Caleb; Sarah Smith and husband, Lane, and their children, Everett and Lincoln; Rebekah Grohn and fiancé, Zach Peabody; and Andria Frederiksen and husband, Erik, with their children, Ethan and Connor; grandsons, Brandon Thibodeaux and wife, Erin, with their children, Aubrey and Grayson; and Corey Thibodeaux and wife, Jade, with their son, Trace; sister-in-law, Betty Michalski; and nephew, Mark Livingston.

A gathering of Mr. Smart’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, May 26, 2023, at First Baptist Church, Nome. His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 27, 2023, at First Baptist Church, 1985 Louisiana Street, Nome. His interment will follow at China Cemetery, China, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 1985 Louisiana Street, Nome, Texas 77629.