ILA MAE SMITH

Ila Mae Smith went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 6, 2006, after a lifetime filled with service to her Lord Jesus Christ, her family and her fellow human beings. She was 71 years old. Family visitation will be held at 6:00-7:00 PM, Friday, December 8, 2006 at the Robert Massie Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, December 9, 2006 at the First Baptist Church with Pastor James McGlothlin officiating. In a continuation of her service to others, her body will be donated to Texas Tech School of Medicine in Lubbock, Texas. Arrangements are made by Robert Massie Funeral Home. Ila Mae suffered a stroke on December 5, from which she did not recover. She is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Clarence "Buck" Smith. She lived in San Angelo for the last 9 years since retiring from 31 years of service as a missionary in Venezuela. During her time in Venezuela she lived in Valencia, where she raised her three children, Caracas and Maracaibo. She worked in all aspects of church life especially with women and children and Christian education. She was more recently involved in Christian Women's Job Corps, the Auxiliary at Baptist Retirement Center, Benevolence Chairman, church clerk, Sunday School teacher, Baptist Women, Life Service Fellowship, Glory Choir and the Sanctuary Choir at First Baptist Church, San Angelo, Texas. Ila was born in Celeste, Texas on January 18, 1935 and grew up in Dora, New Mexico. She attended Causey and Dora schools and Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. She married Clarence "Buck" Smith in Dora, New Mexico on April 28, 1955. She is preceded in death by her parents N.B. and Olean Mae Duncan, brothers Ernest Duncan and Oscar Duncan. Survivors are her husband Clarence "Buck" Smith, two daughters Melody Wong of Dallas and Melissa Portillo and husband, Leonel of Caracas, Venezuela; one son Michael Smith and wife, Pam of Sugarland, Texas; one brother T.Z. Duncan of Portales, New Mexico; four sisters Helen Jones of Portales, New Mexico, Freida Slone of San Angelo, Mary King of Artesia, New Mexico and Maud Olean Thorp of Alamogordo, New Mexico; grandchildren Jeremy Wong and wife, Jennifer, Mallory Smith, Madeline Smith, Raquel Portillo, Miguel Portillo, Rebeca Portillo; great-grandson Joseph Wong; and numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other family members and friends. Pallbearers will be Patrick Crump, Jon Mark Hogg, Ron Powers, Kerry Peacock, Dick Mahler, Wayne Merrill, Darrell Smith and Rick Williams. Honorary pallbearers are her son Michael Smith and grandson Jeremy Wong. In lieu of flowers a memorial can be sent to Gospel Vision Foundation, designated for the work in the Venezuelan Amazon, 2025 W. Beauregard, San Angelo, Texas 76901; the Lottie Moon Christmas offering in your local church, or the International World Missions offering at FBC San Angelo, PO Box 2138 San Angelo, Texas 76902.