Abraham "Abe" Smith, Jr.

Abraham Smith, Jr. of Groesbeck, completed his seven-year long battle with cancer and earned his eternal rest on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, at age 61. A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, February 21, 2015, at the Word of Life Church (193 LCR 412 -across from Groesbeck High School). Abe was born December 11, 1953 to Abraham Smith, Sr. and Juanita Wiley Smith in Bluefield, West Virginia where his Dad was stationed in the Air Force. The family moved to Waco when he was five, and he grew up there. Abe was a great football player on his high school team at Richfield High in Waco through his Junior year. The team had developed so well that they felt they were destined to win the state championship the following year. However the team was all separated for his Senior year, with the intergration policies that resulted in the team members being bussed to several different schools in Waco, and they never got the chance to play together again. Abe graduated from Waco High School. Abe started working at HEB in Waco while still in high school. He worked at various HEB stores in Waco, Ennis, and Marlin and worked his way up to Manager. While in Marlin, where he was the grocery manager, he enlarged the HEB store taking in the former Gibson store. He retired from HEB after twenty-three years. While living in Marlin, Abe met Helen Jean Smith, from Kosse who was playing on the Women’s Softball League there. He had been invited (by her brothers) to hit balls to the ladies, and he ended up coaching them. He fell in love with his “short-stop” at the first meeting. As soon as he met Helen, they talked and within a month, they were married. They created a close family with Helen’s two children and Abe’s two children, and together had a daughter, Ashley. He adopted Helen’s children, Draper and Erica, giving them his name, and loving them as his own. After many years of having too little time together, Abe and Helen decided to open their own business so they could be together with their family all day every day. They moved to Groesbeck and opened Limestone Video in 1992, where Abe and Helen became a vital part of the community. They worked and taught their children to work and were able to send four children to college. Abe knew everyone who came to the store, as well as through his involvement in sports and his children’s activities. He coached his son Draper’s Little League team, along with Roy Sessum, and was Helen’s helper and supporter while she was president of Little Dribblers. He coached Andrea’s team and was actively involved in each family member’s sports events. There is no accounting for the number of children Abe helped to play sports by paying for their fees or shoes, and buying school supplies, and prom dresses, and giving videos and games to those who couldn’t otherwise enjoy them. Eleven years ago, after their children were grown, they adopted their daughter, Andrea Smith. Also, Abe developed a close bond with Clint Sutton while he was still in middle school and claimed him as a “son.” They had a relationship as close as any father and son, and Abe encouraged him to go to college and taught him how to be a man. Abe had a special bond with Helen’s brothers, Clayton and David, even before meeting Helen. He loved each of his nieces and nephews and all were important to him. Abe had the natural ability to command respect and let everyone know his expectations for their behavior. He was a happy man, compassionate man, loving man, and honest man, and he would listen. He was a great teacher, with so much wisdom, and a social butterfly who loved talking and interacting with his customers. His mother described him as a boy who mowed the yard and did chores without being asked. As a young man, he bought his first car while working at HEB and after driving it for only one day, traded it to his mother and drove her older car. Abe of course knew and could tell you about every movie, every actor, and every video game. He loved Prince and had seen him in concert multiple times. He was a big sports buff, and for the last seven years had season tickets for the Baylor football and basketball games, attending with Mike Thompson and other friends. Helen sent Abe home from the video store when he began his battle with cancer, to spend more time with his family and doing things he enjoyed. Since 2003, one of his great pleasures was Fantasy Football, with his team being called “Purple Reign.” He played with friends, at the store, and at home, each year. His special partners were the Gordon brothers (Ed, Danny and Gary) and Brian Biezenski. He was “Commissioner” on two leagues and played on four leagues, playing his final Superbowl game this year. The guys spent many happy hours dressed in their football team jerseys, talking smack, and eating Helen’s cooking. These friends did not forget Abe during his illness, calling him daily. In 2001, Abe, along with Helen and the family, gave their lives to Christ and were baptized. He was a member of the New Destiny Church in Killeen, where their son Draper is the Pastor. He assisted Draper in feeding the homeless and other outreach activities. Few people in the Groesbeck community, as well as Marlin and other towns have not met and been touched by Abe; he will be missed by his family and friends and those he loved to help. Abe was preceded in death by his father, Abraham Smith, Sr. and his nephew, Haywood Smith, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Helen Jean Smith of Groesbeck; daughter, Andrea Smith of Groesbeck; daughter, Ashley Smith-Gomez of Waco; daughter, Erica Smith-Stowell of Dalhart; daughter, Tiffany Smith-Sanders of Waco; son, Allen Smith of Waco; son, Draper Smith of Killeen; son, Clint Sutton of Bryan; his mother, Juanita Smith of Waco; brother, Haywood Smith, of Waco; brother, Nathan Smith of Waco; sister, Cynthia Smith of San Angelo; his Aunt Norma of Waco; and twelve grandchildren.