Ava Smith

In the loving arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is to be found our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear friend Ava Lou Schane Smith, 90 years old, of McCamey, TX, who passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at McCamey Hospital.

Born April 5, 1924 in Bronte, TX to Bill and LuVena (Best) Schane, Ava graduated from Mineral Wells High School in 1941. Ava moved to McCamey in 1946. She married Garland Smith on December 21, 1946.

Ava was a member of the First Baptist Church of McCamey since 1947. She taught several age groups in Sunday school and missions. She truly loved working with young people and was very active in her own children’s activities in school, sports and church. She was a den mother for several years, helping her two sons. Ava owned and operated the Badger School Store for several years. To this day people would come up to her and tell her how much they loved her hamburgers, which always put a smile on her face.

Ava was a member of the Rebekah Lodge #169 for 50 years. She held every office in the organization. Ava received the highest honor as a Rebekah, the Declaration of Chivalry. She was also a member of McCamey’s American Legion Auxiliary since 1967 and served in the District 16 office. Ava joined the McCamey Garden Club in 1974 and held many offices multiple times. She loved her flowers and it showed in her yard. Her front yard was covered in beautiful Bluebonnets every spring. In addition, Ava received the McCamey Pioneer Citizen Award in 2009.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Garland Smith; daughter Betty Southern; parents, Bill and LuVena Schane; brothers, Wayne Ray Schane and Marion Schane; sisters, Christine Schane and Nita Mae Austin; and sister-in-law, Vera Schane.

Ava is survived by her daughter, Linda Easley and husband Jim of Odessa; sons Wayne Smith and wife Jan of McCamey and Ronnie Smith and wife Diane of Odessa; son-in-law, Les Southern of Houston; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 4 step great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; brother, Bruce Schane of Louisiana; several nieces and nephews; special friend, Esta Mae Southern of Mineral Wells; and several friends in McCamey.

Visitation will be at Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home on Sunday at 2:00 pm through Monday in McCamey. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 at the First Baptist Church of McCamey with Rev. Ernest Wall of East Side Baptist officiating. Interment will follow at Resthaven Cemetery in McCamey, entrusted to Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be grandsons Shane Easley, Lance Easley, Toby Smith, Chris Smith and Devin Smith and great-grandson Ryan Easley.

In lieu of flowers, the Family requests memorial gifts be made to the McCamey Garden Club, the McCamey Veterans Memorial or Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas.

The Smith, Easley and Southern family would like to thank and express our sincere gratitude to each and everyone for all your prayers, floral and food offerings, and your presence with us during this most difficult time.