Melissa Lynn Acker Smith

Melissa Lynn Acker Smith, 54, of Gonzales, passed away Friday, Aug. 21, 2015. Mellissa was born Nov. 2, 1960 in Victoria to Carl H Acker, Jr. and Joan Elizabeth Aubry Acker. She was a member of Pilgrim Presbyterian Church.

Melissa grew up in Gonzales, attending Gonzales schools and graduating with the GHS Class of 1979.  She had been very active within the Apache Flames drill team, serving as an officer every year of her participation. She served as the drill team major her senior year. 

It wasn’t uncommon for Melissa to engage the assistance of her younger sisters to answer to her beck and call. Clearly, it was their privilege to serve her and the only reason they existed was because she allowed them too, a mantra that suited her fun loving queen of the family status before the sibling coup d'état. 

Melissa loved going to the beach, vacationing to Garner State Park, swimming in the Guadalupe River and fishing off the dock near the camp house. She loved family and cherished time spent together making memories that bring forever smiles. 

In 1981 she graduated from Bee County Community College as a registered dental hygienist. She worked many years in the dental offices of Dr. Kelly Keith DDS in Austin and she dearly loved her patients and wholeheartedly appreciated their devotion and patronage. Not only did she get to serve wonderful people in the dental office, but she got to work with a truly wonderful staff that she called friends.   

She passionately worshipped her nieces and great-nieces and nephews. Without a doubt they were a large part of her world and she theirs.

At home near Bebe, Melissa enjoyed gardening, skeet shooting and fishing for largemouth bass. She was a wonderful cook and challenged herself by pairing each course served with a complimenting dish. She enjoyed riding the big orange Kubota ATV around the ranch with her dogs, Daisy, Bebe and Lucky riding beside her. She was a habitual Dollar Store shopper and there are rented storage units to confirm her characteristic thriftiness. 

Those that knew Melissa well knew her as a beautiful lady, loyal and selfless and a truly great friend. They also never expected Melissa to be on time, it was her nature to be late for everything, after all punctuality is never a diva’s forte.

Melissa is survived by her life partner, Loy Smith of Gonzales; sisters, Judith A Shovlin of Gonzales and Valarie K Acker of Huntsville, Ala.; nieces, Vicki Stegall (Seth), Alyssa Price (Sam Watts), Bethany Shovlin and Heather Price; great nieces and nephews, Carter Stegall, Peyton Stegall, Grady Stegall, Landon Price and Avery Getts and a host of loving family and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother and father and her sister, Sandra Kaye Acker. 

A celebration of life service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home with interment following in Odd Fellows Cemetery. Pallbearers are Anthony Polk, Phrog Styre, Gene Potter, Kenneth Hanke, Kris Rasmussen, Karen Rasmussen, Chris Neubauer and Kelly Neubauer. Honorary pallbearers are Lynn Smith, Jr., Horace Mercer, Seth Stegall, Grady Stegall, Sam Watts, Larry Hanke, Sr., Larry Hanke,Jr. and Nicole Cooper. 

The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. to service time. Memorials may be made to Austin Pets Alive through www.austinpetsalive.org or charity of one’s choice. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.