Ann Nell (Morris) Smith

Ann Nell (Morris) Smith, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on March 26, 2025  at the age of 91. Born on April 6, 1933, in Paducah, Texas, to William and Viola Morris, Ann Nell grew up with strong family values that she carried throughout her life.

She married Melvin (Mody) Smith on September 6th, 1952 and together they built a home filled with love, warmth, and unwavering devotion.  As a homemaker, Ann Nell took great pride in raising her children and creating a nurturing environment where family always came first. She was a woman of kindness, strength, and generosity, who found joy in the simple pleasures of life—gathering with loved ones, preparing home-cooked meals, gardening and sharing laughter.

The same kindness Ann Nell bestowed on the people she loved, she showered on plants.  She took great joy from growing things.  She had wild success gardening and spent hours cultivating crops and enjoying the fruits of her labor.  She was never one to turn down a cutting from a friend that she would tenderly look after until it flourished.  She would use whatever random container she could find as a receptacle for a wayward seedling and soon it would yield a blossom. 

After successfully launching her children, Ann Nell embraced her rancher era.  She took great pride in raising cattle and spent time driving through the pasture identifying new babies and mommas to ensure they were thriving. If you were lucky enough to accompany her on the “tour de herd” she would regale you with the names of each and every one as she counted them head by head.   She was also known to monitor the market and provide gentle guidance on when to buy and sell.

Ann Nell is survived by her children, Mark Smith and his wife Rhonda, Janelle Smith Persall and her husband Tim, and Todd Smith and his wife Carrie. She is preceded in death by her husband Melvin and her beloved son, Gordon Smith, and is lovingly remembered by his wife, Becky Smith.

Her legacy continues through her cherished grandchildren: Summer Martin and husband Stephen,Anna Byers and  husband Jack, Chandler Edwards and husband Andrew, Emily Fisher and husband Jeffrey, Chloe Blades and husband Randy, and Ali Garcia and husband Arnulfo.  She was also preceded in death by grandson Ace Smith.  

She also leaves behind her adored great-grandchildren, Isaac and Jesse Martin, Juniper and Yvette Byers and Everett Edwards, who brought her immense joy.

Ann Nell will be remembered for her boundless love, gentle spirit, and the countless lives she touched with her kindness. Her family finds comfort in knowing she is reunited with those who went before her and will forever hold her memory in their hearts.

Her love was a guiding light, and though she will be deeply missed, her legacy will live on in the hearts of family and all who knew her.