Lewis Wayne Smith

Lewis Wayne Smith, 84, of Lake Proctor, Texas died April 28, 2020 in Waco, Texas from Covid-19.  His spirit is carried on by his family and friends.

Lewis Wayne Smith was born on October 20, 1935 in Kingsville, TX.  He joined the Navy in 1958 and served as a radarman on the cruiser/destroyer USS Walker until he was honorably discharged in 1962.  He was married to Carole, who he adored, for 57 years and together they raised their 2 sons.   Wayne worked as a Greyhound bus driver for many years, then became a USDA certified meat inspector for Blake’s Lotaburger in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  In 1979 he purchased his first cotton gin in Oklahoma Lane, Texas and in 1991 purchased his second cotton gin in Bovina, Texas.  After closing his first gin, he continued to operate Bovina Gin until he retired in 2008.  He built his and Carole’s dream home in Salida, Colorado where they lived until Carole’s death in 2018.  He moved back to Texas, to be closer to his family, and lived at Lake Proctor until his passing.

Wayne was very active and loved 4x4 adventures with family and friends, hunting and fishing, and playing racquetball and pickleball.  He enjoyed reading, especially Louis L’Amour books and he loved taking care of his horses and mules.  He adored his grandchildren and great grandchildren and they felt it when they saw him light up when they were around - he was proud of his Legacy in them. He took great pride in cooking whether grilling outside or baking his famous poppers, inventing a new bread with the kids, or making his special pancakes.  In any encounter with Wayne you can be sure you would be offered something to eat and something to drink (he loved his Lord Calvert too).  Wayne was a strong, caring, persistent man and his spirit will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents Lemuel Walter Smith and Bernice Barnett Smith Coates, his sister Carol Smith Naslund, brother Cliff Smith and his wife Carole Jean Zolman Smith.

He is survived by his son Mike Smith and wife Lori, of Morgan, Texas, his son Keith Smith and wife Tracy, of Valley Mills, Texas, his grandchildren Elisa Powell, Kadi Baize, Ryon Smith, and Stuart and Tyler Smith, his great-grandchildren Kaydance Powell, and Jett and Knox Baize, his sister Esther Roper of Womack, Texas, and brother David Coates of Johnston, South Carolina, as well as many in-laws, nieces, nephews and other family members and friends too numerous to mention but not forgotten.

A Memorial Service will be held for Wayne at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 6 at the Lawson Funeral Home in Meridian, Texas, followed by a Celebration of Life to be held at his home at Lake Proctor, Texas.