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Billy Ray Smith December 17, 1926-November 14, 2002 Billy R. Smith, the son of Walter Smith and Nora Nugent Smith, was born in Dry Prong, Louisiana. He attended LSU, Northwestern University and graduated from Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas. He served in the army in WWII, guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington D.C. and continued to promote patriotism through his involvement with Americanism projects later in life. Billy began his professional career in China, TX as an agriculture instructor then continued as a farm & ranch television/radio reporter in Amarillo, Texas. Upon moving to Dora, NM, he returned to education, where he met his wife, Louise Smith (Daughter of Odell & Una Smith of Rogers, New Mexico). He received his first administration position in Causey, NM before moving to the Navajo reservation, which included stints in Crownpoint, Thoreau, & Gallup New Mexico. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Belen, NM for three years before moving to McKinney to be close to their family. Billy R. (Red Socks) was an active member of the Elks Lodge, the Masonic Lodge & Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church of Allen Texas. He served in the education field for 30 years, sold insurance for Horace Mann and enjoyed retirement with his wife of 44 years. Billy R. was proudest of his family and will always be remembered for his love of people & life. He is survived by his wife, Louise Smith of McKinney; her parents, Una & Odell Smith of Portales, Nm; two children, Billy Roy Smith of Richardson, Rita Smith Bingham and her children, Kaitlyn Joy, Grayson William-Roy, Braden Cross Bingham of McKinney Texas. Family members include Holt & Laverne Irby of Garland, Gerald & Devault of Lubbock, Derrell & Jody Smith of Waco, Leslie Earl & Billie Smith of Summerville, North Carolina, Pauline & Susan Ann Smith of Colfax, LA., and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at 4:00p.m., Saturday, November 16, 2002 at First Baptist Church in McKinney, TX. Interment was held at Dry Prong Cemetery in Dry Prong, LA. Arrangements were under the direction of Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Directors in McKinney, TX.
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