Raymond Smith

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 PM Monday April 24th at Terpening and Son Mortuary for Raymond Ratliff (Jack) Smith, Jr of Gatesville, TX.

Viewing Monday April 24th 10:00 AM to noon at Terpening & son.

Pastor Ty Houghtaling will officiate services and burial will follow at Twin Oaks Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Bruce Waldrip, Dennis Parent, Chris Menigo, Daniel Dixon, Nicolas Jenkins and Henry Boyce. Honorary pallbearers will be Warren Hanson, Dave Shields, Kyle Stevenson

Jack was born May 5th, 1925, in Jarrell Texas, the son of Raymond Ratliff Smith, Sr and Eva (Bridges) Smith.

Jack attended school in Jarrell, where he rode his horse back and forth from the family farm. When he was 16, he traveled on a cattle truck to work construction at Fort Hood. He graduated high school in May of 1943 and lettered in four sports.

Jack joined the U.S. Navy in June of 1943 during WWII. He did boot camp in San Diego California. While in California, he learned to surf and enjoyed listening to big band music. He operated a LCVP, Higgins Boat, during several invasions of Pacific islands. Jack also learned to box in the Navy. It was either box or swab the decks, so he chose to box. After he was discharged, he moved back to Jarrell and worked on the family farm.

He was chosen to play AA ball for the farm club of the Cleveland Indians in Cheyenne Wyoming. While in Cheyenne he played baseball in the summer and worked at the refinery during the winter months.

Jack moved to Artesia and met Jessie Nell Cape and they were married Oct. 16, 1959. While in Artesia he worked at the potash mines. He then moved to North Carolina and worked in a phosphate mine for a couple of years. He then farmed in Tucumcari NM for a couple of years before moving back to Artesia. Jack rough necked for a few years in the oil field and then hired on with Central Valley Electric, where he worked until his retirement. After retirement he did a lot of day work for area ranchers. He was also a member of the Artesia Roping Club.

He loved his family and any animal, especially horses. He taught his kids and most of his grand kids to ride horses and how to drive a car.

He was a member of First Baptist Church and really enjoyed his Mens Sunday School class.

He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.

We are very grateful for the staff at Coryell Health Rehabliving at the Meadows in Gatesville, TX. where he spent his last 9 months. They treated him like he was part of their own family and took very good care of him. Also, we are very appreciative of Bluebonnet Health Services for all they did while he was on Hospice.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents; wife Jessie; daughters Guyra Jackson, Jacqueline Smith; son Dennis Jenkins; and Robby English.

Jack is survived by daughters Sandy Smith of Artesia, Jan Waldrip and husband Bruce of Gatesville, Tx; daughter-in-law Julie Jenkins of Lake Arthur, NM; grandchildren Shelley Jenkins of Artesia, Justin Jenkins and wife Laura of North Dakota, Tara Parent and husband Dennis of Gatesville, Tx, Kallie Menigo and husband Chris of Waco, Tx. Chelsea Willever and Daniel Dixon of Artesia, Danny Jackson Jr. and wife Gracie of North Carolina, Cathey Bartlett and husband Chad of North Carolina. Kim Jackson of North Carolina, Stacey Jackson-Hill of North Carolina, Megan Jenkins of Artesia, Nicolas Jenkins of Lake Arthur, Ryen Jenkins of Lake Arthur and numerous great and great-great grandchildren.