The toughest, strongest person I ever knew, my husband of 61 years, Milton Smith, passed from this earth February 16, 2024. He graduated from Mineral Wells, Texas High School in 1960 and began his retail career with the variety store chain Duke & Ayres in De Leon, Texas. I remember him telling me about his first day in De Leon. One local man was chasing another local man down the street on a tractor singing "it ain't gonna rain." All of you old timers will remember who this was. Milton spent several years in the variety store business with Duke & Ayres, the local store Bibby's Variety and Perry Brothers. Milton and Tjwanah married when Milton was transferred from De Leon to Alice, Texas in 1962. He spent time in retail in Nacogdoches, Texas, Nederland, Texas and De Leon, Texas.

In 1966 Milton was drafted into the military during the Vietnam conflict. He spent time in Fort Polk, Louisiana, Fort Sill, Oklahoma and then 18 months in Germany in a missile unit. Upon his return to the states, he went to work for The De Leon Peanut Company and this became his lifelong career which ended with Golden Peanut Company in 2007 as Southwest Procurement Manager.

Other than family, there were three things Milton loved: his job, taking care of his yard and BEARCAT football. For years, he was an avid runner and bike enthusiast. He often entered bike rides, including the "Hotter'N Hell 100 In Wichita Falls, Texas.

Milton was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Lola, brothers, Carl, Clyde, Lloyd, Marvin, Buford, Larry and one sister, Melinda. Surviving are his wife, Tjwanah, and son, Stacy Dean, grandchildren, Maci Savannah Smith, Marshall Harrison Smith, and Tanner and Trevor Jordan who are like our grandchildren. Also, surviving are sisters, Billy Howard, Patricia Brown (Jim), Debbie Lack, (Larry), Loretta Davis, Sherry Robertson and brother, Jerry. There is a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, the best neighbors and friends in the world and we can't forget his "best buddy," Charlie.

Funeral services celebrating Milton's life were held Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home with his son Stacy and special family friend Craig Smith officiating. Interment followed in De Leon Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Tanner Jordan, Trevor Jordan, Marshall Smith, Landen Lewis, Marney Wilkerson, Perry Jordan, Caeden Williams, and Declan Williams. Honorary pallbearers were Trent Thomas, Rayford Gardner, Wayne Terry, Bill Wilkerson, Don Marable, Gerald VanZandt, Robert Montgomery, Mark Lewis, Grady West, and Richard Lack.

If you choose, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the De Leon Area Historical Society for the Depot Project, 173 N. Texas St. De Leon, TX. He fought "Like a Bearcat" until February 16, 2024.