James “Skippy” Smith

James “Skippy” Michael Smith , 65, returned to his heavenly home on November 25, 2015 after a valiant battle with a long illness. His devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace.
Skippy was born to the late Reginald and Belinda Smith, a Methodist pastor and a homemaker respectively, in Austin, TX on June 14, 1950. He was immersed in the Christian community that would be his lifelong support from an early age. He was an acolyte for his father as an adolescent and taught youth group to students as an adult. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1974 with a degree in mathematics and accepted a position as a high school math teacher in Dallas, where he would teach for 38 years.
Skippy was blessed with a large and loving family. He helped raise his five children with patience, discipline and humility. He taught them to read, write and solve complex equations, and often took them on long family trips to see the natural beauty of every state in the South and Midwest. From the very beginning, he dedicated his children to God and encouraged them to explore the beauty of the gospels, leading his eldest son, Mark, to become a pastor.
Skippy was an educator at heart. He was kind and soft-spoken, and always had time to answer a question or solve a problem, no matter how small. He is dearly missed by his loved ones, who celebrate the fact that he is at peace with his creator.
Skippy is survived his sons Mark, Leonard and James Jr.; his daughters Jeannett and Vicky ; his grandchildren Victoria, Lenor, Patricia, Angie and Marcus; and his brother, Reginald Smith. He is preceded in death by his parents.
James “Skippy” Smith will be buried at the Holy Lord Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. on November 30, with a reception to follow at the First United Methodist Church. Reverend Claude Rutherford will officiate the service. The family gratefully declines flowers and donations, but prayers, condolences and memories are gladly accepted.