Furn Louise Smith

Furn Louise Smith March 11, 1927 - November 22, 2012 Mrs. Furn Smith of Lorena passed away at home Thursday, November 22, 2012. Services will be 1:30 p.m., Sunday, November 25, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel with Rev. Charles Ray Rodriquez and Rev. Buddy Sipes officiating. Burial will follow at Cottonwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 6:00 8:00 p.m., Saturday, November 24, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Furn was born March 11, 1927, in Levi, McLennan Co., Texas, to Annie Gude Barlow Purczinsky and Julius O. Purczinsky, Sr. She was a member of Cottonwood Baptist Church of Falls County, Texas. She attended Rosenthal School and graduated from Waco High in 1944. She holds a Bachelor of Administration 1950 and a Master of Science in Education from Baylor University 1965. She has served as President of the following: Waco Chapter of A.C.E., Epsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, and the Lorena Women's Club. She also served on the Board of the Waco Boys Club. At present, she was a member of the Henry Downs Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the McLennan County Historical Commission. She helped to preserve and obtain a Texas historical marker for the Bullhide Creek Bridge connecting Cottonwood and Levi. She began her teaching career at Bremond, taught at Watt Common School, and also for the Troy ISD. She was employed with the WISD as a teacher at the following schools: Kendrick, Lake Waco, Parkdale and R.L. Smith. She was selected to teach in the first Enrichment Summer Workshop for the WISD, and was a traveling Spanish teacher. Additionally, she served as principal of Brook Ave. 6th Grade Center and North Waco Elementary. In 1986, she retired from Waco ISD and taught at Hewitt Methodist Private School. She took time out of her professional career to homeschool her six grandchildren. Her career ended after teaching more than 12 years at St. Mary's School in West, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Julius O. Purczinsky, Jr.; and sister, Frances Jane Akers. She is survived by her daughter, Lynne Gonzales and husband, James; six grandchildren, Fernando Gonzales, Jessica Gonzales, Toni Gonzales, Stephanie Alvarado and husband, Israel, Stacie Rivas and husband, Arturo, Monica Munoz and husband, Joel; 12 great grandchildren, Samantha Gonzales, Nicolas Martinez, Jonathan Martinez, Cristian Martinez, Taylor Gonzales, Kaedyn Madins, Kevin Alvarado, Gabriella Alvarado, Natalie Alvarado, Lillian Rivas, Madelyn Rivas and Jeremiah Rivas. Pallbearers are James Gonzales, Fernando Gonzales, Israel Alvarado, Kevin Alvarado, Arturo Rivas and Joel Munoz. A special thanks to all who visited and especially to the entire staff at SouthernCare Hospice for providing such excellent care to both Mrs. Smith and the family. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey