Duane Hurst Smith

Duane Hurst Smith was born in McClellan, Texas near Center & San Augustine, on October 26, 1923. He spent a lot of time on the farm with his grandparents as his father & mother were moving frequently to follow jobs in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas & Louisiana. The family settled in Marshall, TX at the end of the depression and Duane finished High School in Marshall in 1941. He met the love of his life, Louise Mathis in Marshall and they were married on August 16, 1942. They recently celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary. Duane was a machinist and started in the Texas & Pacific Railroad Shops in Marshall as a high school student apprentice. He joined the Navy in January 1943 and served in the South Pacific on the oil tanker, USS Kennebago, that provide fuel to major battleships and other surface vessel in major conflicts. He endured Kamikaze attacks and other hazards of war in the Pacific until honorably discharge in December 1945. He resumed life with his wife and first son in Marshall after the war. His first son, Kenneth Duane, was born while he was at see in July 1944. In 1949, he rejoined the Navy as a reservist with his friends. While working for the MKT Railway in Dennison, TX, he was recalled to active duty for the Korean War in September 1950. He served on a refrigerated supply supporting troops on the Korean Peninsula. He was once again honorably discharged in San Francisco in December 1951. He again joined Louise and they remained in the San Francisco area where he worked as a machinist for American Can Company. He returned with the family in 1953, Louise was at the time carrying the second son Gary Smith who was born in Marshall, Texas on December 4, 1952. Duane and Louise moved to Longview in the summer of 1954, so Duane would be closer to his work as a foreman at Lone Star Steel. Duane helped Slim Wellman form a new company at Le Tourneau College Campus in 1956. Duane eventually became the Executive Vice President of Wellman Industries. When Wellman Industries was sold and dissolved he resumed his career with Rich's Machinery as a salesman and job estimator as well as a mentor to many of the many younger men at Rich's. He retired from Rich's in 2011. In 1992 Louise & Duane celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary as a family reunion with nearly 100 in attendance at Pine Crest Country Club in Longview. Duane was an avid golfer and served on the Board of Trustees at Pine Crest. Duane passed away unexpectedly on October 7, 2012 from an accident. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Louise; his two sons Kenneth Duane & wife Carol, Gary Wayne & his wife Susan, grandchildren Jennifer Smith, Noah Smith, Joanna Schrichfield, Christina Decker, Angela Smith, & two great grandchildren. Duane & Louise were an anchor to a much larger extended family including the Smith, Castle, & the Moore Families. Funeral servces will be 4 pm Thursday in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home with Rev. Richard Emerson officiating. Burial will follow at Rosewood Park with U.S. Navy Honors. The family will receive friends starting at 3 pm prior to services.

Duane Hurst Smith

October 26, 1923 - October 7, 2012