Barbara Ann Blaine Smith

Funeral service for Barbara Ann Blaine Smith will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 9, 2023, in the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home of Snyder Chapel with Rev. Les Banks, Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Tipton, officiating.

Burial will follow in the Fairlawn Cemetery, Snyder.

Barbara Ann Blaine Smith, 84, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 2, 2023, in Spring, Texas. She was born January 11, 1939, in Snyder, the daughter of James G. and Velma Blaine.

She attended Snyder Schools where she participated in basketball and band. Through her high school years, Barbara worked at Rexall Drug Store where she honed her social skills. Everyone wanted to stop in and say “hi” to Barbara so they could see her beautiful smile. Barbara graduated from Snyder High in 1957 and later attended Oklahoma College for Women. She married her high school sweetheart, Gene Smith, after a courtship that began early in their school days.

Gene’s job with International Harvester kept the young family moving. Barbara would often have jobs within the school systems where her children attended. When Gene opened his IH dealership in Bryan, Texas, Barbara went to work for Texas A&M University, where she remained until her retirement in 1993. In her retirement, Barbara enjoyed traveling, gardening, and reading. Her favorite travel destination was London, visiting there multiple times. A highlight was a trip she arranged for her family and grandkids, where she was able to act as tour guide.

Another great love was her roses. Family and neighbors loved getting to enjoy her backyard which resembled a London garden. Barbara had a green thumb and could make things grow when others could not. Anything beautiful caught Barbara’s eye. And finally, reading. Barbara would spend hours reading in her library in their College Station home. Her interests spanned many genres, from U.S. History to European monarchies. Subjects that captured her attention included the Civil War, Quanah Parker, and her favorite, Winston Churchill.

Barbara, lovingly known as “Meme”, is survived by her daughter, Rani White and husband Scott of Mesa, Arizona; son, Grant Smith and wife Jill of Magnolia, Texas, five grandchildren: Justin MacDonald and wife Andrea, Cody MacDonald, Juli Whittington, Marshall Smith, and Baylee Smith. She is also survived by three great-grandchildren: Caleb, Graham and Kellen MacDonald; sisters: Velma Blaine Reser, Jimmie Blaine Marshall, former daughter-in-law, Shewa Smith, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, Gene Smith, her son Gregg Smith, grandson Gregg Smith Jr., her parents, James G. and Velma Blaine, and sisters, Panatha Blaine Callahan and Panzie Blaine Biggs.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fairlawn Cemetery Association, PO Box 185, Snyder, OK 73566.