Johnny C Smith

Johnny C. Smith, 90, of Ruidoso, New Mexico, passed away at his home, on Friday, September 1, 2023, with his wife, Mary, and his son, James, by his side. A “Celebration of his Life” will be held with a graveside service on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Oakwood Cemetery, 200 Front Street, Cisco, Eastland County, Texas. In addition, there will be a Memorial Service in Ruidoso at Gateway Church on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 11:00 a.m.

            Johnny was born in Cisco, Texas, in 1933 to John Thomas and Lillie Odessa Moss Smith. He was the eighth child, and last surviving, of nine siblings.  He was a 1951 Cisco Lobo graduate. He served in the Korean Conflict and was a Disabled Navy Veteran. After returning home, while working two jobs, he enrolled at Abilene Christian College and graduated with a Bachelor of Education Degree in 1962. He started his first teaching job at Rotan Junior High School where he taught math for two years. In 1964, along with the Abilene Christian College Exodus, he taught math in West Babylon Junior High and East Islip High School, Long Island, New York, for four years. In 1968, he taught upper-level math for two years at Hale Center High School, near Lubbock, Texas. Then, in 1970, he taught math at Abilene High School, in Abilene, Texas. While teaching at Abilene High School, he acquired his Master’s Degree in Counseling from Abilene Christian College. He retired from AISD as a Vocational Placement Coordinator for Special Education students, having worked a total of thirty-two years in education.

            Johnny had a big heart to help anyone out… picking up hitchhikers along I-20 or taking in strangers and giving them a job, a place to live and food to eat.  He loved to hunt and fish, even holding the Boone and Crockett Record in Eastland County in 1992. While in Long Island, New York, Johnny met his first wife, Shirley, supported and attended the Church of Christ. He was involved in many construction jobs both in housing and church building expansion. Almost every Saturday, you could find Johnny with both sons on the construction site of a new house. He took on many tasks like planting Afghan Pine Trees around the nursing home, beautifying the town of Cisco, and implementing a city recycling program. Last and foremost, was when his first wife, Shirley, was at the Cisco Nursing Home. He lived there with her until her passing in 2011.

            Johnny was known as a son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a dedicated servant of Christ. He loved going and being in church with his brothers and sisters in Christ. He wasn’t one to sit still very long, he always loved being busy and working. Johnny knew how to figure things out.

            Johnny is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, five sisters, his first wife of fifty-seven years, Shirley A. Smith, youngest daughter, Dana A. Horton, and his daughter-in-law, Lisa G. Smith. He is survived by his wife of eleven years, Mary Smith, of Ruidoso, New Mexico. His children, Mark Smith and wife Kathi, Denise West and husband Phillip, and James Smith; five grandchildren, Shaun West and wife Lacey, Nicholas Smith, Crystal Dick and husband Nathan, Daniel Horton and wife Megan, Taylor Smith, and wife Melanie. Also surviving are seven great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.