Extracted from The Daily Sentinel (Nacogdoches, TX)
Kathleen Bullard Smith
Service for Mrs. Kathleen Bullard Smith, 88, of Nacogdoches, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 13, 2008, at Laird Funeral Home with the Rev. Dan Smith and Shannon Arrington officiating. Interment will be at Holly Springs Cemetery.
Kathleen died Monday, December 8, 2008, in Nacogdoches, Texas. She was born November 20, 1920, in Mount Enterprise, Texas, to the late Alfred Roan Bullard and Lena Felicia Bosworth Bullard. Kathleen Bullard Smith was the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Bullard. The pretty blonde baby sister was born into a family of one brother and four sisters. She graduated from Mount Enterprise High School and attended The Baptist College of Marshall in Marshall, Texas, and Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches.
During World War II, Kathy worked at the naval base in Corpus Christi, Texas. She returned to East Texas and married Charlie Mack Smith on March 9, 1947. This joined the daughter of a rural mail carrier/farmer from Mount Enterprise to the son of a rural mail carrier/farmer from Garrison, Texas. They remained devoted to one another for almost sixty-two years. Charlie and Kathy lived in Mississippi, Louisiana, and several towns in Texas as he pursued a career in the oil industry. He remained with Humble Oil his entire career. Humble Oil finally emerged as Exxon Corporation. They retired to Nacogdoches, Texas, where they built a home in Piney Woods Country Club Estates to continue their avid avocation of golf, golf and more golf. Kathy played with the Piney Woods Ladies Golf Association for over 25 years. Kathy and Charlie enjoyed a close friendship and many trips with their golfing buddies. They were members of First Christian Church of Nacogdoches.
As her beloved Charlie gradually succumbed to the cruel ravages of Alzheimer's disease, Kathy valiantly cared for him at home, determined to keep him in familiar surroundings and cared for with the loyal love that only she could provide. He died in February 2008, less than a year before Kathy passed away. Through her last illness, she was lovingly cared for by the capable, patient and conscientious caregivers Liz Sitton, Rosemary Crocker and Tonya Mims. Kathy's family were comforted and assured by knowing that she was in their gentle care. We cannot fully express our gratitude.
Kathleen was preceded in death by a brother, Buford Bullard and his wife, Gertrude; four sisters and their husbands, Patty Langford (A.B.), Sammie Thomas (Ashton), Pert Lay Hawkins (Charles/Hal), Dorothy Feazell (E.C.); three nephews, Agustus B. Langford, Mack Bullard and E.C. Feazell III; and one niece, Patricia Feazell Kendrick.
She is survived by five nieces, Sherry Bullard O'Toole and husband, B.J., Barbara Langford Cates and husband, Austin, Sandra Langford Howe and husband, Dan, Nancy Lay Frazer and husband, Joe, and Thea Bullard; six nephews, Drew Thomas and wife, Kathy, Dennis Smith, Charles Biggers and wife, Denise, Lloyd Biggers and wife, Diane, Paul Kendrick and John Smith and wife, Sandy; one brother-in-law, Kenneth Smith; one sister-in-law, Jo Ann Smith; and lifelong friend, Lorin Ray Walker; several grand nieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews will be told about the life of devotion lived by Aunt Kathleen.
Memorial donations can be made to First Christian Church of Nacogdoches, 702 Mound St., Nacogdoches, Texas 75961, or the charity of your choice.
Pallbearers will be Austin Cates, Tom Dudley, Dan Howe, John Smith, Drew Thomas and Billy Williams.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday, December 13, 2008.
Laird Funeral Home.
Friday, December 12, 2008