Jo Beth Smith
5 years ago
Services were held on Friday, May 10, 2019, at The River Church in Panhandle with Rev. Doug Harvey, officiating. Burial followed at the Panhandle Cemetery under the direction of Minton-Chatwell Funeral Home.
Jo Beth was born on May 19, 1924 to Kathryn and Homer Hughes in Whittier, Calif. They moved to Borger, Texas where Jo Beth remained until she married Charles F. (Choc) Smith on Aug. 10, 1941 in Panhandle. There, they made a happy home for 63 years until Choc passed away on July 26, 2004.
She served as First Lady during Choc’s tenure as Mayor of the city. She was active member of the First Christian Church and many clubs throughout her life, including a long membership in the Athenaeum Club. She enjoyed golf and bridge. Her family often wondered how she found people to play bridge with her against her amazing skills. She was known for her culinary genius with many benefiting from her homemade caramel apples at Halloween and her homemade rolls at the holidays. Her grandkids enjoyed their many summers at Camp Jo Beth.
Survivors include daughter, Sandra Smith O’Connor of Amarillo; son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Lynette Smith of Panhandle; daughter-in-law, Carol Smith of Amarillo; grandchildren, Shane Keller of Dallas, McKenna and husband Gary Thomason of Amarillo, Spencer Smith and wife Cara of Dallas, Corey O’Connor of St. Louis, Dr. Blake Smith and wife Jennifer of Amarillo, Dr. Tyler Smith and wife Ashley of Amarillo; and five great-grandchildren, Choc Thomason, Saylor and Quinn Smith, and Max Smith, all of Amarillo and Owen Smith of Dallas.
Jo Beth is preceded in heaven by her husband Choc; son Mike Smith; daughter Lynda Keller; brother James Hughes; and grandson Toby Linn O’Connor.
It is a request that memorial be made by contributions to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, Diabetes Research Foundation or the Toby Linn O’Connor Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Jesuit Foundation in Dallas, Texas.