Perry Louis Smith

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Perry Louis Smith, 86, of Gonzales, passed away Saturday, Jan. 13. He was born on April 23, 1931, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Albert August Smith and Sadie Cohen Smith.

As a boy in Los Angeles, he joined the Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of the graduating class of 1949 at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles. Immediately after graduation he joined the United States Air Force and served with the Veterinary Corps from 1950 until 1953 attaining the rank of S/SGT. Perry was a longtime cattle buyer; a career which spanned over 52 years. He co-owned LK Cattle Company with Brian Denman for several years.

He is well known throughout Texas for his knowledge and work in the cattle industry. He was a member of The Friends of Gonzales County Livestock Show, the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Gonzales County Extension Beef Committee and the Independent Cattlemen’s Association. He was named Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture by the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association in 1993. One of Perry’s greatest contributions to the South Texas Extension educational efforts has been his sincere and continuous support of all County Agricultural Agents from this area. All Extension Agents who know Perry have gone to him for counsel and advice.

He was a very active member of the Episcopal Church of the Messiah, having served in many positions within the church. He was a Road to Recovery driver for the American Cancer Society, helping to transport and care for cancer victims, which he too faced in his life. He was a member of the 621st Mess Kit Repair Club in Shiner.

He loved polka music and seeking out new places to eat. Most of all, he was a caring and loving father to his daughters and instilled the love of fishing in them. He also took them with him to many cattle auctions, passed on his sense of humor and demonstrated the values that defined him as a sweet, kind and gentle man. He will always be remembered as a true gentleman by his family and many friends.

He is survived by his daughters Donna Gray and husband Jay, Patty Stewart and husband Will, all of Gonzales; Patty and Donna’s mother Dorothy Smith of Gonzales; grandchildren Brock Stewart, Brady Stewart and wife Jennifer, Josh Gray and wife Jolie all of Gonzales; great-grandchildren: Regan Gray, Ashlynn Stewart, Abigail Stewart, Hays Gray, Emma Stewart and Lane Stewart. Also surviving is his longtime close friend and companion Leonita Panus of Shiner.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Emily Ann Smith and his grandson Ross Gray.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 at Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Gonzales with Reverend Ed Dohoney officiating. Interment will follow at the Hermann Sons Cemetery. Pallbearers include Brock Stewart, Brady Stewart, Josh Gray, Mike Brzozowski, Ray Neitsch and Jay Tinsley. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Bill Quinney, Jess Linscomb, Tootie Dupree and Pete Peterman.

The family of Perry, in keeping with his devotion and caring for others, request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Episcopal Church of the Messiah Outreach or the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) 3420 Executive Center Drive, Suite 108, Austin, TX 78730. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home, 906 St. Paul, Gonzales, TX. Friends may sign the guestbook at seydlerhillfuneralhome.com.

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