Obituary for Jayson Nathaniel "Jay" Smith
Jayson “Jay” Smith turned in his final lesson plan on Saturday March 26, 2022, at home with his wife and family around him. He began his life of learning August 25, 1939, in Guymon, Oklahoma the son of Elmer “Jack” Smith and Alma Dale Lewis.
It could be said that Jay walked into school at age 6 and never left. He had a lifelong love of learning that lasted until his last days on this earth. He graduated from Goodwell High School, Panhandle A&M University, and from West Texas A & M. He held several degrees including Master of Education, Master of Mathematics, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Health, and a Bachelor of Geography. He gave up attending school just shy of finishing his thesis for a Doctorate in Mathematics. As Paulette so aptly said,” he was a Jack of all trades and mastered them all.” He truly had a teacher’s heart that stayed with him even when he left the field, to take to the road working in construction and maintenance, he would still find the time to tutor kids. It seemed he had a magic touch in making the overwhelming seem simple. Jay spent his time applying all his knowledge into various activities such as, coaching, teaching, designing engines and working for various construction companies all over the country in refinery and power plants.
One would think that Jay would have been a complicated individual, but truly he was a man of simple tastes. He enjoyed being at home, working on his own mathematics book, cooking, and eating good food, spending time with all his kids and grandkids. His pride in their accomplishments was a topic for which he never tired, although they may have never heard it from him. He took pride in his adopted hometown of White Deer, serving as Mayor. He filled his retirement substitute teaching in White Deer. He was a small business owner primarily of several restaurants including being the original founder of the Green Punkin, Pizza ETC, and most recently Rustler’s Steakhouse and BBQ in Skellytown. There is no question most White Deer residents from the 1970’s and 1990’s enjoyed a Jay’s pizza! Jay was never without a project of sorts to keep him busy. If it were Saturday, you could find him home watching his beloved OU Sooner’s play football and razing Paulette about her UT Longhorns and on a certain Saturday of the year celebrating or grieving over the results of that game. He would attend all the games he could of the various sports of White Deer until his health kept him away, but you can bet he had Paulette checking on Facebook for the scores. His presence will be missed in the stands for a long time to come.
Waiting to greet Jay, were his beloved Aunt Lucille and Uncle Michael Smith, who were his primary guiding force in his life, his parents, his sister Patty Beck, and stepson Torey Craig and of course his favorite Democrat Raider the dog.
Jay leaves behind a large and loving family, his “baby doll” Paulette of the home; his four sons, Mike, and wife Leah of Borger; Rodger of White Deer; Jayson of Beaumont and Ben and wife Kacey of McAlester OK; His stepson, Shawn Craig, and wife Barbra of White Deer. A whole team line up of grandchildren-Gered Smith and wife Britteny of Vernon, Kayla Miller and husband Travis of Booker, Kooper Smith of Allen, Keira Smith of White Deer, Jaycee Lopez of Amarillo, Kennedi, and Blayde Smith of McAlester, OK; step-grandchildren Shea Soriano and husband Paolo of Austin, Trevor Craig, and wife Aislinn, Elaine Woods and husband Taylor all of Amarillo, and a special young man Colten Mooney; nieces Cindy Biggers and husband Jerry , Tricia Mitchell and husband Larry all of Carnegie, OK; nephew Richard Ross and wife Kay of Anadarko, OK. A plethora of great-grandchildren, great nieces and nephews round out the lineup.
The family requests donations be sent to the Light House Food Pantry of Skellytown and White Deer, PO Box 812 White Deer, TX 79097 or to a charity of your choice in memory of Jay.
Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held Friday April 1, 2022, at 10:30 am, First Baptist Church of White Deer, 411 S. Omohundro St, White Deer, TX, with Brother Alan Wilson officiating. The family has entrusted the cremation care of their loved one to Winegeart Funeral Home. Honorary Pall Bearers will be Gered Smith, Kooper Smith, Blane Willis, Ryan Willis, Trevor Craig, and Colten Mooney.
To sign the online guestbook and leave condolences for Jay’s family on his Book of Memories, please visit www.winegeartfuneral.com.
It could be said that Jay walked into school at age 6 and never left. He had a lifelong love of learning that lasted until his last days on this earth. He graduated from Goodwell High School, Panhandle A&M University, and from West Texas A & M. He held several degrees including Master of Education, Master of Mathematics, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Health, and a Bachelor of Geography. He gave up attending school just shy of finishing his thesis for a Doctorate in Mathematics. As Paulette so aptly said,” he was a Jack of all trades and mastered them all.” He truly had a teacher’s heart that stayed with him even when he left the field, to take to the road working in construction and maintenance, he would still find the time to tutor kids. It seemed he had a magic touch in making the overwhelming seem simple. Jay spent his time applying all his knowledge into various activities such as, coaching, teaching, designing engines and working for various construction companies all over the country in refinery and power plants.
One would think that Jay would have been a complicated individual, but truly he was a man of simple tastes. He enjoyed being at home, working on his own mathematics book, cooking, and eating good food, spending time with all his kids and grandkids. His pride in their accomplishments was a topic for which he never tired, although they may have never heard it from him. He took pride in his adopted hometown of White Deer, serving as Mayor. He filled his retirement substitute teaching in White Deer. He was a small business owner primarily of several restaurants including being the original founder of the Green Punkin, Pizza ETC, and most recently Rustler’s Steakhouse and BBQ in Skellytown. There is no question most White Deer residents from the 1970’s and 1990’s enjoyed a Jay’s pizza! Jay was never without a project of sorts to keep him busy. If it were Saturday, you could find him home watching his beloved OU Sooner’s play football and razing Paulette about her UT Longhorns and on a certain Saturday of the year celebrating or grieving over the results of that game. He would attend all the games he could of the various sports of White Deer until his health kept him away, but you can bet he had Paulette checking on Facebook for the scores. His presence will be missed in the stands for a long time to come.
Waiting to greet Jay, were his beloved Aunt Lucille and Uncle Michael Smith, who were his primary guiding force in his life, his parents, his sister Patty Beck, and stepson Torey Craig and of course his favorite Democrat Raider the dog.
Jay leaves behind a large and loving family, his “baby doll” Paulette of the home; his four sons, Mike, and wife Leah of Borger; Rodger of White Deer; Jayson of Beaumont and Ben and wife Kacey of McAlester OK; His stepson, Shawn Craig, and wife Barbra of White Deer. A whole team line up of grandchildren-Gered Smith and wife Britteny of Vernon, Kayla Miller and husband Travis of Booker, Kooper Smith of Allen, Keira Smith of White Deer, Jaycee Lopez of Amarillo, Kennedi, and Blayde Smith of McAlester, OK; step-grandchildren Shea Soriano and husband Paolo of Austin, Trevor Craig, and wife Aislinn, Elaine Woods and husband Taylor all of Amarillo, and a special young man Colten Mooney; nieces Cindy Biggers and husband Jerry , Tricia Mitchell and husband Larry all of Carnegie, OK; nephew Richard Ross and wife Kay of Anadarko, OK. A plethora of great-grandchildren, great nieces and nephews round out the lineup.
The family requests donations be sent to the Light House Food Pantry of Skellytown and White Deer, PO Box 812 White Deer, TX 79097 or to a charity of your choice in memory of Jay.
Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held Friday April 1, 2022, at 10:30 am, First Baptist Church of White Deer, 411 S. Omohundro St, White Deer, TX, with Brother Alan Wilson officiating. The family has entrusted the cremation care of their loved one to Winegeart Funeral Home. Honorary Pall Bearers will be Gered Smith, Kooper Smith, Blane Willis, Ryan Willis, Trevor Craig, and Colten Mooney.
To sign the online guestbook and leave condolences for Jay’s family on his Book of Memories, please visit www.winegeartfuneral.com.