James Smith Obituary James Dennis Smith was born on March 6, 1943 and went home to the Lord and the loved ones he dearly missed, at the age of 78. He passed away after a brief illness on April 10, 2021. Denny, as everyone knew him, grew up in Matador and Paducah Texas. He was the second son born to Earnest "Mike" Smith and Leona Nadine Smith (Holt). He was drafted into the Army in November of 1964 and served two years in Germany during the Vietnam War. During his military service, he received the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, and the Sharpshooter (Rifle) Medal. Denny had five children with his former wife, Brenda Kay Brunson. He spent seventeen years with his spouse, Marilyn Wilson of Paducah, who went home to the Lord in January 2021. Denny was an avid fisherman and had a great love of the outdoors. As a child he had many pets many would consider wild creatures, including a pet crow. As a talented artist, Denny enjoyed drawing illustrations of western characters and writing poems. Denny is survived by his eldest brother, Earnest Lee Smith of Paducah, a niece, Carrie Denise Freeland-Tomlinson, of Lake Fork, Texas, his sons, Jerry Dean Smith of Lubbock, and Jeffrey Michael Scott of Lubbock, his daughters, Jenny Victoria Garcia of Lubbock, and Dannette Michelle Baker, of Lubbock, nine grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mike and Leona Smith, and his eldest daughter, Jaime Renee Smith-Villarta. A graveside memorial service will be held in Paducah, Texas, Garden of Memories Cemetery on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. A pot-luck lunch for the family will be held at the First Baptist Church, 801 North 11th Street, in Paducah following the service. Services

Memorial Service Saturday May 22, 2021 1:00 PM Garden of Memories Cemetery (Paducah, Texas)