Wayne Lee Smith

Wayne L. Smith passed away in hospice care at Baylor Scott & White – Hillcrest Hospital. His son, daughter and daughter-in-law were with him during the two-week, highly complicated bladder cancer diagnosis. Wayne was pre-deceased by just over two months by his wife, Norma, who he said “was the best thing that ever happened to me”. Wayne and Norma were married for over 63 years, starting out in Waco, both graduating from Baylor University, then moving for two short stints in Dallas and El Paso, before returning to Waco and settling into their home in Hewitt fifty-one years ago. Wayne and his “Babe” enjoyed going out to eat together and spending time with friends. They raised Mark and Kathy in Hewitt, and “Dad” took them to practice and play in various sports, including t-ball, soccer, softball and golf. Wayne had many interests through the years, including fishing for bass and crappie, dove hunting, working on and washing cars, taking the kids to parks in the camper when they were young, and playing poker. Wayne enjoyed being with family and friends. The Smith family had a small farm in Red Oak, Texas that was a source of many good extended-family memories. Wayne never met a stranger and could make anyone feel at ease. He had a very sly and sarcastic sense of humor, and he was never at a miss for a one-line zinger.

Wayne was involved in many organizations over the years from Hewitt Methodist Church when the kids were growing up to Woodway Methodist Church with Norma more recently, from the Hillcrest Lodge Masons and Karen Temple Shriners as a younger man to many good times more recently in the Hewitt Lions Club. Wayne served in the Texas National Guard in the 1960s. Wayne went to work for Ford Motor Company after graduating from Baylor University. He then obtained a role with a Motorcraft parts distributor to move the family back to the Waco area. He had a couple of more sales roles before becoming half owner for around twenty years in Marineland of Waco boat dealership. Wayne was primary caregiver to Norma during her over twenty-year battle with cancer as well as to his sister as she faced early onset dementia. Wayne is now resting with family and friends in Heaven – and enjoying a vodka and tonic!

In addition to Norma, Wayne is pre-deceased by his parents, Whitt and Laura Lee Smith, his brother and sister-in-law Whitt and Ruth Smith, and his sister Carey Ann Smith. Wayne is survived by his daughter Katherine Ann Smith and his son and daughter-in-law Mark Wayne Smith and Angela Laswell Smith. He is also survived his niece Peggy Smith Youtz Cheverere and her husband Jon, children and grandchildren, his nephew Whitt Langford Smith and his wife Jerrie and children, and by his deceased bother-in-law Bob Cissell’s wife Janet Forte.

The family would like to thank Hillcrest Hospital staff for their attentive and high quality of care of Wayne during his final days. The family is still stunned to lose Wayne so soon after losing Norma, and while they wished to hold on to him longer, Wayne made his wishes very clear. While it was very painful to let him go, they are encouraged that he is at peace now and hoping he is cracking jokes in Heaven with Norma. He was “neat” and will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hewitt Lions Foundation, PO Box 151, Hewitt, TX 76643.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 8th at Rosemound Cemetery in Waco.

The family also invites extended family and friends to a celebration of the lives of Norma and Wayne Smith from 2 to 5 PM on Tuesday following the graveside service at their favorite restaurant El Conquistador on Waco Drive.