Felix Joseph Smith, Jr.

Felix Joseph Smith, Jr., passed away at his home in Lumberton, Texas on January 22, 2021 surrounded by family and friends. A celebration of his life will be held at 10:00 AM on January 27, 2021 at the Wildwood Village Mills United Methodist Church. Arrangements were entrusted to, Dorman Funeral Home, in Orange, Texas.

Born July 23, 1940 in Orange, Texas, he was a 1958 graduate of Lutcher Stark High School. While in high school he played tennis and later became a certified tennis professional with the US Tennis Association, which led him to become a teaching professional. He also passed the Texas Real Estate test and worked for Jess Davis Realty in Orange. He worked the better part of his life at Firestone Rubber Plant in Orange, retiring after forty years of service.

Felix had numerous civic accomplishments in his life:

He was a Mason and was initiated into the Masonic Pine Lodge #642 in Kountze, Tx. where he was raised as a Master Mason, and became Master of the Lodge.

He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and entertained many groups with his rabbit Presto.

He founded a civil process serving business and became a licensed private investigator and member or the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators.

He enjoyed writing poetry in his spare time, and even won the Editor’s Choice Award for his poem “Life is for the Living.”

He enjoyed sailing, hunting and fishing and became a hunter’s education instructor.

During the years 1984 to 1999 Felix and his wife, Carolyn, raised thoroughbred race-horses on their ranch in Louisiana. In 1990 he formed a corporation in Calcasieu Parish, LA to build housing for the elderly. Also during these years he served as president of the fire board, president of the water board and served as Deputy Constable in Ward 5 of Calcasieu Parish.

In 1999, he left Louisiana, and moved to Wildwood, Texas to live on the golf course. While at Wildwood, he served on the long range planning committee and served on the Board of Directors for Wildwood HOA. He also worked as a substitute teacher in the Woodville, Warren, Kountze and Lumberton school districts.

He was predeceased by his Father Felix Joseph Smith, Sr., and his mother Tressie Alverda Cliver Smith.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn, daughters: Debbie Lansford and husband Jack of Fairfax, VA, and Kimberley Vickery of Mauriceville, TX.; Sons: David Smith of Orangefield, TX., Craig Bean and wife Michelle of Lake Charles, LA, and Kenny Bean of Vidor, TX.; Sisters: Wynette Stuntz and husband Ken of Houston, TX, and Phyllis Tarter of Bryan, TX.; Grandchildren: Jessi Rosenberg, Evan Rosenberg, Rocky Vickery, Matt Bean, Sean Bean, Ashley Maynor and Hayden Simon.; and 8 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, or to the Leukemia Research Foundation.

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