Smith, Gerry D. 1933-2024 Katy, Texas
By NewsPress Now
KATY, Texas – Gerry Dean Smith, 90, of Katy, Texas, passed away peacefully on Jan. 4, 2024, while in the care of Hospice in Caydance Memory Care. His ashes will be buried next to his beloved brother, Kenneth, in Overland Park, Kansas.
Gerry “Gary” was born on Feb. 6, 1933, in St. Joseph, to Esther and Harry Smith. He grew up on farms, graduating from Gower High School where he played many sports. He was baptized at King Hill Baptist Church. He graduated with a BS in education from the University of Missouri where he was a quarterback under Coach Don Faurot. After graduation, he served briefly in the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant. He later graduated from Northwest Missouri University with an MS in Education and from his alma mater with a Doctorate in Education. He also graduated with a Master of Divinity from Midwestern Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, and was ordained as a minister by King Hill Baptist Church. He pastored two rural churches during his seminary years and served as Young Life leader.
Gerry spent his professional career with the St. Joseph School District, beginning by teaching physical education at Lindbergh Elementary, coaching at Benton High School, and then spending many years as the principal of Eugene Field Elementary and later Bessie Ellison Elementary. He was also a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Wyatt Park Baptist Church and was elected to St. Joseph City Council.
After retiring, Gerry began taking art classes at Missouri Western State University, providing his family and friends with a plethora of paintings and pottery pieces which they will treasure for years to come. He eventually moved to Gladstone, Missouri, where he lived for 20 years and joined Northcross United Methodist Church where he made many friends and held his 80th birthday celebration. He had a goal to travel at least one week out of every month. At least twice a year he went on European painting trips hosted by renowned artist Charles Gruppe, occasionally joined by his son, making friends with other artists from across the country. For many summers he volunteered with People to People, chaperoning groups of students on month long trips to Europe and Australia.
In 2017, Gerry moved to an independent living facility in Katy, eventually moving to Caydance in December 2021. Throughout retirement, Gerry continued to be active playing tennis and golf, eventually taking up doubles pickleball, playing four times a week until his move to Caydance.
Gerry is preceded in death by his mother and father and his three brothers: Raymond, Leonard and Kenneth Smith.
He is survived by his son, Ray Smith, of Leawood, Kansas; and his daughter, Ann (Keith) Lalime, of Katy; as well as one sister-in-law, Pauline Smith, of Overland Park, Kansas; and three grandchildren: Sarah (Chad) Berry, of McKenzie, Tennessee, Scott Hill, of Katy, and Victoria (Keegan) Byrd, of Van Alstyne, Texas. In addition, he has two great-grandchildren, Samuel and Brilee Berry; several nieces and nephews; and extended family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northcross United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, where a celebration of life will occur on March 25, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., live streamed at www.youtube.com/@NorthCrossumc and archived for on demand viewing. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
