Kenneth Wayne Smith

Kenneth Wayne Smith, known to everyone who loved him simply as Wayne, passed away on May 8, 2026, in Corinth, Texas, at the age of 67. Born in Amarillo and raised in Fort Worth, Wayne was a proud Texan through and through, and he wore that identity with warmth and a good story always close at hand. Wayne dedicated his career to counseling students with disabilities, and it was work he genuinely loved. He had a gift for connecting with people others might overlook, and his use of sign language was just one of the ways he met students where they were. His coworkers knew him as someone who brought heart to the job every single day, and the young people he served were better for having known him. Wayne was a faithful member of West Main Church of Christ and had been an active Boy Scout leader during his son Garrett's years in scouting. Away from work, Wayne's heart belonged to trains. He was a proud and passionate member of the North Texas chapter of the NHRS, serving as its President. He loved collecting, riding, reading, and chasing down old depots and historic locomotives, always with a camera and a story ready to share. Those who spent time with Wayne knew that a good train story might go long, and nobody minded a bit. When he wasn't thinking about trains, you could likely find him cheering on the Texas Longhorns or the Dallas Cowboys, two loyalties that fit perfectly alongside his Texas pride. Wayne had a deep love for Canada and cherished every moment with his Canadian family. Whether he was in Texas or traveling north, family was always at the center of who he was. He adored his son Garrett above all else, and that love was evident to everyone around him. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Nan J. (Wilkinson) Smith and C. Howard Smith. He is survived by his wife, Lana Smith; his son, Garrett Blake Smith; his sister, Brenda L. Davis and her husband Jim S. Davis; his nephew, Nathan D. Brookman and his wife Cassidy and their five children; his nieces, Melissa L. Johnson and her three children, and Laura D. Fiene and her husband Dustin and their two children; and his cousins, Jane Ann Cassidy and Dean Smith, both of Burleson, Texas; Sharon Ife of Burlington, Ontario; Carolyn Wilkinson of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Faye Pickard of Parksville, BC; Kathy Janswick of Parksville, BC; and Rob Wilkinson of Victoria, BC. A graveside service will be held on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Lynn Creek Cemetery in Jacksboro, Texas. Wayne was one of a kind: a counselor, a storyteller, a devoted husband and father, and a friend to many. He will be deeply missed.

Kenneth Wayne Smith

November 10, 1958 - May 8, 2026