Felix Hearne Smith of McKinney, Texas passed away on April 1, 2020 at the age of 91. He was born April 20, 1928 to Linus M. and Porter Lou (Hearne) Smith in an old Victorian home located in downtown McKinney. That historic home is still there today. He was the youngest of four children including Louis Smith, Helen Smith Kimbrel, and Marie Smith. All whom preceded him in death.
Felix attended the original McKinney Boyd High School where he was a yell leader. He graduated in 1945 and then attended North Texas State for a year and a half majoring in psychology. In the fall of 1947, he went to work at Sears-Roebuck ordering office supplies and unloading merchandise, followed by working as a teller at Collin County National Bank.
The Assistant Manager of Sears and the office manager at Lone Star Gas, where Fran worked, set Fran and Felix up on a blind date on May 10, 1948 (Fran’s birthday) and it was love at first sight. In 1950, when they were about to be married, Felix was drafted into the Army, so the wedding was postponed. Over the next 23 months Felix was in California, Japan, and Korea ranked as a Sergeant First Class in the AUS Infantry. When the Korean War came to an end, they were married on November 28, 1952.
Felix then went to work at Turrentine-Jackson (Morrow) Funeral Home where they had the benefit of free housing for them and three other families including Billy Wayne & Annette Turrentine. Their first son, Felix “Hearne” Smith, II was born in 1957. Felix also began working for an accountant and went back to college part-time. In 1960 their second son, Van Hampton Smith was born.
In 1964, Felix received his degree in Business Administration and Accounting followed by passing the CPA exam. After commuting to downtown Dallas for two years, he had the opportunity to be back in McKinney where he became partner with the original accountant he worked for back in 1957. In 1978, he made another change and went to work for Texas Transformer where he was part owner until the company was sold in 1998, retiring shortly thereafter in 2000. He and Fran loved participating in Supper Club with friends to travel. They enjoyed going on 25 cruises, Alaska being one of their favorites along with one with their son Van, daughter in law Deanna, and their three granddaughters. He also enjoyed many happy, and fun years with family and friends at their place in Preston Fishing Camp on Lake Texoma.
Felix is proceeded in death by his son Hearne, his above-mentioned siblings, and his parents Linus and Porter Smith.
He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Frances Ledbetter Smith of McKinney; son, Van Hampton Smith and wife, Deanna of Van Alstyne, Texas; granddaughters, Michelle Smith of Plano, Texas, Victoria Smith and husband, Ward Hauer of Manor, Texas, Shannon Smith of Sherman, Texas; great-grandson, Wyatt Hauer, of Pflugerville, Texas. Also survived by nieces and nephews Sandra Kimbrel Hulver, Barbara Kimbrel Jordan, John Kimbrel, and Jim Kimbrel (Helen Smith Kimbrel); Lana Smith Watson, Marilyn Smith Drone, Frank Smith, and Rick Smith (Louis Smith); along with many great-nieces and nephews.
Sadly, the family was not able to honor Felix in the way that they would have wanted to due to the current virus situation. A private visitation and burial were held on April 3 & 4, 2020. A memorial and celebration of life will be held later when everyone can be together again and share stories of his life.