Billy James Smith

Billy James Smith, age 89, passed away peacefully at his home on the 31st day of August 2022 surrounded by his loving wife and family. Bill was born on September 8, 1932, southwest of Ringling in Ryan, OK, the seventh of nine children to Joe Franklin Smith and Mary Agnes (Evans) Smith. After his mother died during child-birth along with his infant sister Jana Sue in 1940, Bill was raised by his father and step-mother Edith Lester Smith and gained seven additional siblings from Edith's previous marriage and two half-siblings. Bill’s father worked in the oilfield and his grandfather John Smith was one of the first preachers at the Baptist church in Ringling.

Bill was voted captain of his high school football team and was a Golden Glove boxer in his youth. He maintained his physique and stamina until late in his life, often winning competitive sports contests against his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren into his mid-80s. Bill attended grade school in Woodrow and Claypool before attending Ringling High School, where he met his life-long sweetheart of 71 years, Betty Lester.

Bill and Betty were married June 24, 1951, in Wichita Falls, Texas, where they lived while Bill attended Draughon’s Business College. They then moved to Grady, where Bill was employed by Otis Lester as a bulldozer operator and ranch hand before deciding to go into business for himself in Ringling. Known for being a hardworking and honest man, Bill owned and operated Bill Smith’s Dozer Service for more than 50 years. He did soil conservation work for farmers and ranchers in Jefferson, Love, Carter, Stephens and Cotton counties. Bill and Betty also farmed and ranched in Jefferson County starting in the late 1950s.

Bill grew up in Ringling. He was passionate about the community and his role in it, having lived in the same house in Ringling since 1959 and graduating four sons from Ringling High School. He loved attending Blue Devil football games and reading The Ringling Eagle. Bill’s passion for the community compelled him to campaign for state representative and he successfully won the seat in 1982. He served 14 years as state representative for Districts 49 and 51. Bill had many friends while serving in the leadership of the House as the Chairman of the Wildlife Committee and a member of the Transportation and Agriculture Committees. He was especially proud of his work on the paving of Pinto Road and the construction of the Red River bridge. Bill enjoyed helping people during his time in the legislature, donating much of his free time listening to his constituents and never hesitating to invite someone into his home for conversation, including family, friends, constituents, neighborhood kids, and local deliverymen. In 2012, Bill and Betty were honored by the community by being asked to serve as Grand Marshals of the Western Days parade.

Anyone who knew Bill Smith knows that he always had a smile on his face and a joke to tell. He loved to laugh and make people laugh. His wife Betty would often say, “you should have been a comedian!”. Even in his final days, Bill never lost his ability to make people laugh. Bill believed in being kind to people and often cited the Will Rogers quote that, “I never met a man I didn’t like.”

Bill placed a supreme importance on family, deciding not to run for another term in the legislature in 1996 so he could spend more time with his children and grandchildren. Bill was passionately in love with his wife Betty for over 71 years. Asked to recently comment on the important events of his own life, Bill took a pen and paper and simply wrote “I love Betty.”

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Mary Smith, his step-mother Edith Lester Smith, his siblings Mary Jo Castle, Wanda Jean Smith Green, Kenneth Evans Smith, Donald K Smith, Glen Boyce Smith, Gwen Joyce Smith, Bobby Jo Smith, Jana Sue Smith, his son Rodney Smith and his step-siblings Wilma (Lester) Folsom and Dwight Lester, and a special nephew who was a like another son,  Vernon Miller.

He is survived by his wife Betty Lester Smith, his children Ricky Smith (wife Janet), Brent Smith (wife Debora), Tracy Smith (wife Gina), and Rodney’s wife Connie Smith, his half-siblings Anthony (Butch) Smith and Sarah (Smith) Monger, and his step-siblings Larry Lester, David Lester, Diana Lester, and Carol Lester Christian. Bill’s legacy and good humor live on in his ten grandchildren Heath, Tobi, Summer, Zaz, Remy, Daniel, Clay, Andrea, Morgan and Chandler and his 13 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild, all to whom he was affectionately known as “Pepa.”

Family visitation will be at the Alexander Gray Funeral Home in Ringling, OK on September 5th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services for Bill will be held at the First Baptist Church in Ringling on September 6th, 2022 at 2 p.m. followed by a graveside service at Ringling Memorial Cemetery.

Condolences may be shared online at www.alexandergrayfh.com