Doug Smith

July 2, 1951 - September 16, 2024

Gary Douglas (Doug) Smith, 73 of Paris, peacefully passed away on September 16, 2024 at home surrounded by his family after a long 6 year battle with cancer.

A funeral service will be on Friday, September 20, 2024 at 10:00 AM at First Baptist Church 207 South Church St Paris Texas.  Dr. Tommy Turner and Pastor Clint Davis will officiate.  Visitation will be Thursday, September 19, 2024 from 5:30 PM till 8:00 PM at First Baptist Church.

Doug was born July 2, 1951, at The Sanitarium in Paris, Texas to Melvin and Gwendolyn Bell Smith.  He grew up in West Paris attending several elementary schools, Travis Junior High and graduated from Paris High School in 1969.  While attending Paris High School he met and fell in love with his high school sweetheart Susan Hiner.  He was a member of the Paris Wildcats and a part of the 1968 football team that only lost one game that year, keeping them from winning the district.  He was also a member of the Lettermen’s Club and HiY Club.  After high school, he earned an associate degree from Paris Junior College.  Then in May of 1973 he graduated from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas with a BA in Economics.  While attending college Doug worked at Roscoe Jones Paint Store.  Also working at the paint store was Phillip Battle who became a lifelong best friend.  Together they started a floor cleaning business.  They worked together cleaning floors for over 20 years.  Later Doug bought Phillip out and continued the cleaning business for some 60 years.  Doug started his career at Campbell Soup in 1974.  After working his way up to the Planning department doing all the scheduling for both the soup and Pace plant, he retired after 35 years in 2012.  Doug was a member of First Baptist Church and he loved his church.  For several years he helped in the two-year-old department.  He fondly called the kiddos his “lap monkeys.”  He also started the security program for the church and most of the time was the first one at church to open the doors and greet everyone.  

On May 18th, 1973 Doug and Susan were married at First Baptist Church Paris by Dr. James Semple.  They were truly blessed with a son, Bert Douglas, and a daughter, Lacy Danelle.  They just celebrated 51 years of marriage this past May. 

Doug is survived by his wife Susan, Son Bert and wife Jennifer Ray Smith, daughter Lacy, and husband Josh Beshears.  His pride and joy were his two granddaughters, Logyn Beshears (Gatlin Wells) and Morgyn Beshears, and a very special addition to his family, his great-grandson, Colter Quinn Wells.  Doug is also survived by his sister Peggy Smith-Cassell and her husband Jerry, two nephews Mike Cassell and wife Kelli, Matt Cassell and Dalinda, three great nieces Ansley Cassell, Kenzi Cassell and Kennedy Cassell and one great nephew Rylan Cassell, one great-great niece Rinlee Rae Jackman, two brother-laws Lee Hiner and Don Hilliard, one sister-in-law Carolyn Hiner and serval cousins, nieces and nephews. 

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law Lemond and Bobbie Hiner and sister-in-law Virginia Hilliard.

Serving as Pallbearers, Phillip Battle, Garry Davis, Gary Anderson, Johnny Wright, Dale Routon, Mike Cassell, Matt Cassell, and Mike TIbbets.  Honorary Pallbearers are the Deacons of the church and the security teams.

The family would like to thank the wonderful doctors and staff at the Paris Cancer Center and the loving care of Mallory, Tykia, Lisa, Brittnei, and Rachel from Platinum Hospice Care.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Gideons International (PO Box 261 Paris, Texas 75461).