Fearl F. Smith

Fearl Fain Smith, Jack County Commissioner of Precinct 1, passed away Sunday June 14, in the local hospital after suffering heat stroke and dehydration. The son of George W. and Dovie Powell Smith, he was born Oct 9, 1932 in Jermyn. He attended school in Jermyn and Jacksboro before the family moved to Texhoma, where he graduated as valedictorian. Upon moving back to Jacksboro, he was working as a mechanic at Ford Garage, as was Steve Tilghman. The two of them became enamored of twins Mollie and Dollie Suttle who walked by each day on their way to lunch. Fearl and Mollie married, as did Steve and Dollie. (All are deceased.) He was a licensed pilot and had his own small plane. A niece remembers his flying his plane, at times even taking his aged mother to Arkansas to see a brother's football team play. The niece also remembers that he designed a house, tore down an old building to salvage the lumber to build his home near the airport. And that he always had a bountiful vegetable garden. Visitors never went home empty-handed. A great-nephew remembers going on a family camping trip to Colorado with him and 16 other aunts, uncles and cousins. For forty years, Fearl planned and put into action extended family vacations to the Colorado Mountains. During his working life, Fearl used his mechanic abilities in his own auto repair shop. Later, he had a TV repair shop. For several years, he was transportation superintendent for Jacksboro ISD. When computers were just coming into widespread use, he set up a complicated software program for each of the schoolbuses. He also put his computer skills to work when he was Jack County Tax-Assessor. He served in the army during the Korean War and was packing to be sent overseas when the conflict ended. He was supportive of his wife in her Jesus Name Church, where he was routinely persuaded to do his rendition of "Long Black Train." Fearl Smith is survived by his son, George Carl (wife Karen) of Amarillo, daughter, Melissa Cowley of Bowie, grandchildren Emily, Chris and Michael Cowley, Jeremy, Joanna, James Fearl, Barbara and Molly Smith, a great granddaughter, Isabella Cowley. Also a sister, Wynelle Catlin of Mineral Wells and brother, Harvey Smith of Hope, Ark., sister-in-laws Mary Parker of Jacksboro and Emily Stout, brother-in-law Dan Suttle. Fearl left behind his faithful companion, Jake, the grandson of one of George Strait's dogs. Two of his favorite organizations were Concerned Citizens and Gladys Johnson Ritchie Library. Donations may be made to them in his name.

Fearl F. Smith

October 9, 1932 - June 14, 2015