1920
Lillian
2012
Lillian Ruth Dehnisch
September 2, 1920 — December 15, 2012
Boerne, Texas:
Lillian Ruth Smith went home to be with the Lord at the age of 92 on December 15, 2012. She was born to Andrew and Lennie Hickman on September 2, 1920, in McAllen. She married Joyce Lynn Smith at the age of 18 on September 17, 1938, in McKinney. Together, they raised five children on their Willacy County land in the midst of Valley cotton country. This farming family owned and operated the Los Coyotes Gin, growing, picking, and ginning cotton over nearly 50 years before Joyce’s passing in January of 1985. Lillian and Joyce were known for their family’s devoted involvement in raising show steers for the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show, with their children and grandchildren walking many champions through the ring throughout the years. Additionally, they worked for nearly a decade together behind the scenes promoting Agri Shows, Inc. and the Lone Star Truck and Tractor Puller’s Association that traveled throughout the southern states of the country, with Joyce and his son building their own pulling tractors, “Ole Blue” and the “General Lee.”
Lillian, eventually known to her grandchildren and great grandchildren as “Mimi,” was the ultimate picture of class and grace. She was famous for her picture-perfect hairdo and for wearing high heels well into her 70s. Her talented “green thumb” was responsible for her gorgeous, tailored yard and the flower beds she lovingly cared for, as well as her skills for growing and tending her fruitful garden. Always the hostess, Lillian spent countless hours in the kitchen over the decades preparing home cooked meals from scratch on an olive green stove for the extended family. There were always the best dishes, conversations, and family memories shared around her idyllic dining room table, complete with fancy, folded cloth napkins.
Lillian is survived by her daughters, Jessica Ellis, Judy (Paul) Martin, Becky (Dwain) Harris, all of San Antonio, Melanie (Steve) Krenek of Lyford, and her daughter-in-law, Sherian Smith of Sebastian; 14 grandchildren: Clifton (Kari) Smith, Claudette Brown, Clarissa (Chad) Cullison, and Clarinda Smith; Bill (Denise) Ellis, Melissa Ellis, and Gilbert Ellis; Michelle (Dave) Dretke, Melanie (Brian) Cox, and Mark Martin; Deanne (Trent) Dietert and Amy (Irwin) Sewell; and Krystal Krenek (Tyler Stenseng) and Kandice (Jason) Duke; and 22 great grandchildren. Those who have passed on before her are her husband, Joyce Smith; her second husband of ten adventurous years later in her life, Bob Dehnisch of Mathis; her eldest, Clifford Smith; her grandson, Collin Harris; and her great granddaughter, Jillian Ellis.
A special song that has represented Lillian to us, her family, after its use in a family slideshow in the 1980s is Gary Morris’s 1983 hit, “The Love She Found in Me.” It says “Give her thorns, and she’ll find the roses. Give her sand, and she’ll find the sea. Give her rain, and she’ll find the rainbow. Just see the love she found in me.” Lillian and Joyce wrote a love story that is mapped out in the roots and branches of our family tree. Their love and devotion to us and their illuminated example of the love of Christ they modeled do not end, as they each live on in the lives of their family.
A time of visitation will be held at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home, Harlingen, on Tuesday, December 18, 2012, between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Lillian’s funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 19, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home in Harlingen with Rev. Brandon Helm, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of Harlingen, and Rev. Olan McCraw, Jr., Lillian's nephew, officiating.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons Clifton Smith, Bill Ellis, Gilbert Ellis, and Mark Martin; great grandsons Travis Haese and Colton Smith; and honorary pallbearer, Collin Harris.
She will be buried right beside Joyce at the Raymondville Memorial Cemetery in a private family service.
The family would like to offer our collective, sincere thanks and gratitude to the staff and nurses of Cibolo Creek Nursing Home and Alamo Hospice of Boerne, who have provided care for her over the last 2 years.
Lillian Ruth Smith went home to be with the Lord at the age of 92 on December 15, 2012. She was born to Andrew and Lennie Hickman on September 2, 1920, in McAllen. She married Joyce Lynn Smith at the age of 18 on September 17, 1938, in McKinney. Together, they raised five children on their Willacy County land in the midst of Valley cotton country. This farming family owned and operated the Los Coyotes Gin, growing, picking, and ginning cotton over nearly 50 years before Joyce’s passing in January of 1985. Lillian and Joyce were known for their family’s devoted involvement in raising show steers for the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show, with their children and grandchildren walking many champions through the ring throughout the years. Additionally, they worked for nearly a decade together behind the scenes promoting Agri Shows, Inc. and the Lone Star Truck and Tractor Puller’s Association that traveled throughout the southern states of the country, with Joyce and his son building their own pulling tractors, “Ole Blue” and the “General Lee.”
Lillian, eventually known to her grandchildren and great grandchildren as “Mimi,” was the ultimate picture of class and grace. She was famous for her picture-perfect hairdo and for wearing high heels well into her 70s. Her talented “green thumb” was responsible for her gorgeous, tailored yard and the flower beds she lovingly cared for, as well as her skills for growing and tending her fruitful garden. Always the hostess, Lillian spent countless hours in the kitchen over the decades preparing home cooked meals from scratch on an olive green stove for the extended family. There were always the best dishes, conversations, and family memories shared around her idyllic dining room table, complete with fancy, folded cloth napkins.
Lillian is survived by her daughters, Jessica Ellis, Judy (Paul) Martin, Becky (Dwain) Harris, all of San Antonio, Melanie (Steve) Krenek of Lyford, and her daughter-in-law, Sherian Smith of Sebastian; 14 grandchildren: Clifton (Kari) Smith, Claudette Brown, Clarissa (Chad) Cullison, and Clarinda Smith; Bill (Denise) Ellis, Melissa Ellis, and Gilbert Ellis; Michelle (Dave) Dretke, Melanie (Brian) Cox, and Mark Martin; Deanne (Trent) Dietert and Amy (Irwin) Sewell; and Krystal Krenek (Tyler Stenseng) and Kandice (Jason) Duke; and 22 great grandchildren. Those who have passed on before her are her husband, Joyce Smith; her second husband of ten adventurous years later in her life, Bob Dehnisch of Mathis; her eldest, Clifford Smith; her grandson, Collin Harris; and her great granddaughter, Jillian Ellis.
A special song that has represented Lillian to us, her family, after its use in a family slideshow in the 1980s is Gary Morris’s 1983 hit, “The Love She Found in Me.” It says “Give her thorns, and she’ll find the roses. Give her sand, and she’ll find the sea. Give her rain, and she’ll find the rainbow. Just see the love she found in me.” Lillian and Joyce wrote a love story that is mapped out in the roots and branches of our family tree. Their love and devotion to us and their illuminated example of the love of Christ they modeled do not end, as they each live on in the lives of their family.
A time of visitation will be held at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home, Harlingen, on Tuesday, December 18, 2012, between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Lillian’s funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 19, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home in Harlingen with Rev. Brandon Helm, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of Harlingen, and Rev. Olan McCraw, Jr., Lillian's nephew, officiating.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons Clifton Smith, Bill Ellis, Gilbert Ellis, and Mark Martin; great grandsons Travis Haese and Colton Smith; and honorary pallbearer, Collin Harris.
She will be buried right beside Joyce at the Raymondville Memorial Cemetery in a private family service.
The family would like to offer our collective, sincere thanks and gratitude to the staff and nurses of Cibolo Creek Nursing Home and Alamo Hospice of Boerne, who have provided care for her over the last 2 years.
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