Ila Mae "Tedi" Smith

Ila Mae Smith (known since birth as “Ted” or Tedi” or” Granny T” by her grandkids as well as close family and friends), passed away Monday, January 11, 2021, at age 91.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at Carlton Cemetery, Carlton, TX (near Hico), where her family is buried.

Tedi was born May 9, 1929 in Lohn, TX. to Thomas Rudolph Holdges and Vera Agnes (Slaughter) Hodges.   She was one of five girls in the family and was raised on a sheep ranch in New Mexico.

Tedi had the heart of a pioneer, a free spirit living just the way she wanted.  She loved sewing, gardening, cooking, canning and baking pies, bread and cinnamon rolls that were better than most.  When she was outside in her garden and caring for her chickens was where she was really happy.

Tedi loved her grandkids and great grandkids and especially adored her grandsons. 

Tedi loved becoming a great-great grandmother to Aubrey.  Holding her on her lap at her 90^th. birthday was a moment in time that brought her a great deal of joy and a very tender memory she talked about often.

Tedi loved family history and spent many hours doing research and writing letters to discover the family heritage.  Later in life, she spent hours sitting on her porch "getting some sun."  She would talk to anyone about family history and could talk about it for hours if anyone would sit and listen. 

Tedi had raised her family on remote ranches in Arizona.  Two years ago, after her long life of hard work and loving her family, she moved to Groesbeck to be with her daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia and Blane.   In the end, she was just ready to “go home.”

Ila was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Bettie Joan of New Mexico; and daughter, Gayle Mortenson of Enid, OK.

She is survived by daughter, Tenne Timmons of Lava Hot Springs, ID and daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia and Blane Colbert of Groesbeck.   Her grandchildren are: Amber and husband James Boyd of Utah, Jamie Mortenson of Arizona, Brandon and wife Zamira Mortenson of Oklahoma, Aimee Schnaufer of Texas, Buster and wife Barbie Frazier of Texas, Buck Frazier of Texas, and Lana Black and husband Phillip of Texas.   There are also 15 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.  Her three surviving sisters are Billie Don Raines, Cozy Parsons, and Dorothy Fae McCarthy.