Harry I. Smith

Harry I. Smith Gentle giant, Harry I. Smith's powerful laugh quieted when he passed away late Wednesday evening, March 5, 2008, at his home in Waco. Harry was 59. His wife of 38 years, Diane, sons Scott and Mark, and sister-in-law Marsha Wolf, held his hands as he fought for every last breath. Harry was unwilling to let cancer beat him, which it never did, as he found peace surrounded by his loved ones. A memorial service is scheduled at Temple Rodef Sholom, 1717 North New Road Avenue, this Sunday, March 9, 2008, at 2 PM., Rabbi Mordechai Rotem will officiate. Longtime family friend Harry Harelik will offer a eulogy. Born at Providence Hospital on May 10, 1948, the third and youngest son of Waco furniture manufacturers Phil and Fannye Smith; the same day President Truman formally recognized Israel as a nation. He followed his parent's footsteps into the furniture industry. First, working part-time after school, when it was too cold to play basketball outside, starting at age twelve as a button-maker for his parents at Smith Furniture. Then, after graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in History, Harry moved back to Waco with his wife, Diane. He worked alongside his parents and eventually became the owner of Smith Furniture until closing the company last May following his diagnosis with NonHodgkins Lymphoma. Harry said he loved working in his parent's company because he loved the people, his customers, and the challenges of creating new sofa products. Harry, was a sophomore at Texas, and was with his Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity brothers, when he first met his soul mate, Diane, during the summer of 1967. Diane was a seventeen year-old first year at Texas, and a Sigma Delta Tau sorority pledge. She agreed to go on a date to a fraternity party with him that week. A few minutes later, he asked her for a second date to another party that week. "What makes you think you want to go out with me a second time when we haven't even gone out a first time," Diane replied. His response was pure Harry, "I'll take my chances." They talked for hours on that second date, and were quickly dropped and then pinned. Harry proposed to Diane on her nineteenth birthday and married his best friend, soul mate, and love-of-his-life three months later. This March 30th, would have been Harry and Diane's 39th anniversary. Mr. Smith often told his sons that he believed he was, "to his beloved as his beloved was to him." Mr. Smith leaves behind a legacy of involvement in various business and philanthropic organizations. He served his country in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1970-76; was a past-president of the Freeman House Board in the 1970's; member of the Waco Rotary Club; board member of the YMCA; president of Southwest Furniture Mfg.; president and board member of the Jewish Federation of Waco; president-elect of Temple Rodef Sholom and co-chair of the JCSCT school board; and, a lifetime member of the Texas Exes. Harry was passionate about his family, coaching his sons various sports teams; his business; all University of Texas sports, especially basketball; poker; traveling with his wife and boys; loving people and living to laugh. Harry is preceded in death by his parent's Phil and Fannye; older brothers Gerry and Norman; best friends Ben Levy and Larry Lack. He is survived by wife Diane; oldest son Scott Smith of Durham, NC; younger son Mark Smith of Costa Mesa, CA; his sister, Ann Smith of Brooklyn, NY; nieces, nephews and extended family. Pallbearers are: sons Scott and Mark Smith; fraternity brother Roger Davidson; friends, Howard Cohen, Roddy Sanger, and Steven Winarick; and longtime Smith Furniture colleagues Stanley Loyd and David Staton. Honorary Pallbearers are: Dr. Gary Barbin, Dr. Christian Cable, Dr. Farley Verner; and longtime Smith Furniture colleagues Jane Booth, Helen Martinez, Janet Pickens, and Jobie Slaughter, whom the Smith family mourns his passing earlier this week. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Smith requested contributions to Temple Rodef Sholom 1717 North New Road, Waco, TX 76707; Jewish Community Council of Greater Waco, PO Box 8031, Waco Texas 76714; or, a favorite charity. Harry will be remembered as a big tall man with a thick mustache who had a loving heart, quick wit, incredible sense of humor, a booming laugh, and gentleness. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Providence Hospice, especially Kathleen Kazda and Dione Jackson. Again, a memorial service is scheduled at Temple Rodef Sholom, 1717 North New Road Avenue, this Sunday, March 9, 2008, at 2 PM. A private family burial will take place Tuesday, March 11th in Seattle, Washington. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.