Robert “Bob” Bernard Smart
Robert “Bob” Bernard Smart passed away from this life and joined his sweetheart Jo, on May 20, 2023. Bob was born in Limestone County, Texas to John and Mary Kate Smart at the family home on February 8, 1930. He was the 8th in a family of 11 siblings. The home was full of children, but also of love.
Family and friends will gather to celebrate his life at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the Andrews Old Cemetery. A visitation will be held at McNett Funeral Home in Andrews, Texas from 5-8 PM on Monday, May 29, 2023. Pallbearers will be Ed Frazier, Karl Rude, Nolan Smart, Tommy Crawford, Fate Crawford, Jeffrey Rude and Zach Rude.
He lived in the Fallon and Shiloh communities until the start of World War II when the family moved to Houston to work in the shipyards. He attended Milby High School, but at the age of 16 in 1946, he joined the United State Marine Corps. After his discharge in 1949 he held various jobs in the Houston area. He was hired by Humble Oil and Refinery Company in May 1950. He started as a roustabout and worked a variety of different jobs for Humble and Exxon. He retired in 1986 after 36 years as a Sr. Drilling Superintendent.
Bob met his sweetheart Jo in December 1950, and they married in April 1951. They had 4 children, Paula, Nolan, Jeanie, and David. In the years with Humble Oil, they lived in south Texas, the upper gulf coast, Louisiana and west Texas. Daddy also worked in the Rockies drilling wells. They moved to Andrews, Texas the day after Christmas of 1958. The company movers picked up the decorated Christmas tree and set it back down in Andrews without a mishap.
Bob and Jo were very active in the children’s lives. Bob participated in the boy scouts and coached baseball teams for his sons for 8 years. They were members of the First Baptist Church. He was a member of the Andrews Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite Bodies.
After retirement he was a member of the Exxon/ Mobil Annuitant Club and the Mesquite Burners. He had also volunteered for the local food bank in the late eighties. Bob received the Andrews Chamber of Commerce Pioneer Award in 2005. He was a charter member of the board of directors for the Andrews County Veterans Memorial in 2006.
Bob loved to fish, camp out and quail hunt. He walked hundreds of miles out on different leases and ranches hunting those elusive birds. Our momma could cook a mess of quails that would melt in your mouth. They would stop at every antique store and junk shop they passed when on a trip. He would walk the lake path every day with his friends. Sometimes twice a day and usually about 3 miles.
Bob was a wonderful daddy to his children. He loved our mother and loved us more than anything. He always showed us how to be good people and we strive to live up to his example. He was the best Grandpa, Pepaw, and Gramps for his grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. They loved him very much. He was a great friend to many, and they knew they could count on him if help was needed.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jo and his son, Nolan, also his parents and all his siblings. He also missed all his friends that passed before him. He was one of the last to go.
He is survived by his daughters, Paula Frazier and husband Ed, Jeanie Stephens, son, David Smart, and wife Juanie, grandchildren, Amy Crawford, Nolan Smart, Sunnie Smart, Matt Stephens and wife Katy, Tammy Rude and husband Karl, 9 greatgrandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Jane Teague and Sandra Smart. There are numerous nieces and nephews that loved him and will miss him greatly.
We want to thank all the people at the Permian Residential Care Center. We appreciate the care and love they provided for our dad.
In lieu of flowers donations be made to Andrews Veterans Memorial, 700 West Broadway, Andrews, Texas 79714. Indicate Robert Smart.
