Gladys Smith

Life Sketch

Gladys Lillian Smith was born on March 9, 1934 to Nicholas and Margaret Veracruz in Kealia, Kauai, Hawaii. She had two sisters, Violet and Victoria, and three brothers, Nicholas, Stanley, and Robert. Growing up on the island of Kauai provided the family with many fun excursions. After high school, Gladys continued her education by taking nursing at LaSierra College, in Riverside, California.

While there, she met the love of her life, Harold M. Smith. Their romance blossomed and they were married on May 1, 1955. The newlyweds set up house in Elgin, TX at the family farm. She finished her nursing at Breckenridge Hospital in Austin, TX. She especially enjoyed working in the operating room and provided care to patients at the same hospital where she graduated. Later she worked in the operating room at the hospital in Elgin, TX. Her last stop in her career was at Golden Years Nursing Home in Elgin, TX. Gladys was loved by her patients and after retiring from nursing, Gladys continued to visit “her” patients at Golden Years Nursing Home.

Gladys was an active member of the Elgin Seventh-day Adventist Church. She was involved in the children’s divisions, Pathfinders, Adventurers, and the monthly Sunshine Band at the nursing homes. She was excited to share the love of Jesus with others.

Gladys loved her family. It was a highlight of her day when the grandchildren would come to visit and help take care of the yard. She believed in Christian education and supported the Elgin Seventh-day Church School, Valley Grande Academy, Jefferson Academy, and Southwestern Adventist College.

Another love in her life was her yard. If you were looking for Gladys, look around the yard. She loved taking care of her flowers and mowing her lawn.

On Sabbath, August 25, 2018, Gladys passed away peacefully at her home in Elgin, Texas. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Harold and Debby Smith of Burleson, TX, Nathan and Joy Smith of Elgin, TX, and Leilani and Richard Stowell of Cleburne, TX. 13 grandchildren: Hailey and Kevin Smith, Cassie and Candie Smith, Jonathan Smith and Bianca, Crystal Manning, Amanda Smith Vazquez and spouse Arturo, Pamela Smith, Linsey Smith Rodriguez and spouse Mark, Ryan Smith, Keilani and Andrew Tremper, Alan, Timothy, and Harold Stowell and 9 great-grandchildren: Katelyn and Nathaniel Smith, Bethany, Adam, Michael, and Isaiah Vazquez, Annabell and Jewel Smith, Paige and Emma Rodriquez. There are also cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and others.

She is predeceased by her husband, Harold Smith, her parents, Nicholas and Margaret Vera Cruz, her brother, Nicholas Vera Cruz, sister, Violet Morehouse, her son Mark Smith, her infant daughter, Vesta Christine Smith, and 4 month old son, Timothy Smith.

Pastor Isaac Heath, Presiding