Keith A. Smith passed away on January 21st in Plano, Texas, where he had been residing at Harbor Chase Memory Care for the past two years. A memorial service will be held at 2 o’clock on Tuesday, January 30th, at University Christian Church, Chapel of the Good Shepherd, 2720 S. University Drive, Fort Worth, Texas.
Keith was born on May 21, 1934, in McAllen, Texas, the fourth son of Lloyd Everett and Laura Fullen Smith. He attended Texas Tech University and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1957. He earned a commission with the Navy after Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and served with the Civil Engineering Corps. His first duty station was at Peugeot Sound Naval Shipyard; and then with Construction Battalion Eleven, building warehouses on Okinawa for the Marines.
Upon completion of three years of active duty, he accepted a job in 1960 with the City of Fort Worth in traffic engineering. He married Margaret Ann Martin in 1963. In 1969, he was promoted to Development Coordinator for the City, then served as Public Works Director and later as Assistant to the City Manager. Among his projects were the redevelopment of downtown Main Street and the Stockyards. In 1983, he became a partner with Everage, Smith and Farrington Engineering. He was selected as Engineer of the Year in 1986 by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. In 1990, he began employment with Dallas Area Rapid Transit as project manager for the design and construction of the North Central light rail, retiring in 2001.
Keith became interested in growing irises in 1985. He joined the Fort Worth Iris Society and filled his lawn with over five hundred different irises. Friends and family were invited to an Open Garden party each spring. Keith served as President of the Fort Worth Iris Society and was coordinator for the 1993 American Iris Society Convention held in Fort Worth.
He served as an Elder at University Christian Church. He was active in all aspects of the Church’s mission. His entire family is grateful to have been members of this loving congregation.
In 2012, he and his wife moved to Frisco, Texas, to be near their grandchildren. Keith enjoyed volunteering at the Frisco Food Pantry. He is survived by his wife and their children, Dr. Alan Arro Smith and his partner David Gentry, Laura Margaret "Daisy" Brockman and husband Dr. Reece Brockman; and his grandchildren Arro Reece, Miles Keith, and Margaret Elizabeth Brockman.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to: University Christian Church https://universitychristian.org/give/ OR Fort Worth Botanic Garden https://fwbg.org/support/