John R. E. Smith

Biography

John Roy Edward Smith, 85, passed away March 9, 2012 in Taos, New Mexico.
John was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico on February 1, 1927 to John E. and Bonnie Smith. He attended Santa Fe public schools, graduating from Santa Fe High School in 1945. He graduated in absentia, having joined the U.S. Marine Corp in January, shortly before his 18th birthday. He served in the Pacific during the last months of World War II, then in the occupation of Japan until he was honorably discharged in 1947. John received his Bachelor of Science Degree from New Mexico Tech in 1954, and then began a career in the oil field service industry. He was employed by Dresser Atlas Corporation in West Texas and transferred to the company's headquarters in Houston in 1961 where he designed and developed their acoustical oil well logging instruments. Five U.S. Patents were issued under his name. Several years before his retirement in 1987, he became Manager of Research and Engineering. New Mexico was always on his mind, so after he retired, he and his wife, Shirley, returned to their beloved mountains. John was a true gentleman and was always willing to lend a helping hand where needed. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Virginia Simpson Guthrie and Margaret Jane Livingston. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley Rader Smith; daughters and sons-in-law Deonna and Alfred Vaughan of Richmond, Texas, Linda and Sidney Banton of Burnet, Texas, Bonnie and Carl Riley Smith of Flagstaff, Arizona, Carolyn and Fritz Besch of Tucson, Arizona; eight grandchildren including two grandsons in Afghanistan, and eight great grandchildren; sister Diana Simmons of Santa Fe and brother Milton Smith of Aztec; numerous nieces and nephews. Serving as pallbearers are: grandsons Ezekiel Banton and John Starkey, Francisco Cortez, Danny Kuykendall, Lanny Kuykendall, and Edwin Gurule.

Funeral service was held on March 14, 2012 at St. James Episcopal Church. Interment followed at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, with mililary honors.

	About
	Name	John R. E. Smith
	Date of Death	March 9th, 2012
	Home Town	AL, US

	Memorial

	Funeral Home	Rivera Family Funeral Home
	Address	818 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur Taos NM 87571 United States

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Tributes

published a comment .

Don Pearce published a tribute .

I was a technician at Dresser Atlas in his group. He was the best sort of fellow and really cared about all of us. I have fond memories of him and all the folks in the Acoustics department.


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Kevin Bolin published a tribute .

I am very sorry for your loss Linda. I have fond memories of the friendship we had with you and Sid. Good Times. We would love to hear from ya'll.


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Anonymous published a tribute .

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David Jacob Starkey published a tribute .

Grandad, you have always been a great Man. I love you and I will miss you. God bless you and rest in peace.


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Sam Campbell published a tribute .

Shirley, I am so sorry to hear about John's passing. He sure made an impression on my kids, Ana and Chris. Christopher still remembers watching cartoons with him when he was about 7 yrs old. Chuck, myself, and my family will be thinking of you in your time of sorrow.


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Daria Wells Usn Veteran published a tribute .

From one veteran to another, I salute you for a life of service to God, Country, Family, and Friends. God Speed and God Bless.


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Yancey Ranspot published a tribute .

ShirleY & Family, I am so sorry for your loss and will be praying for the family.


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Rebecca Alire published a tribute .

Shirley & Family-
I'm so sorry for the loss of your loved one. My thoughts and prayers are with you.


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Peggy Martinez-Rael published a tribute .

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Shirley.


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Diana Trujillo published a tribute .

Shirley and family, we are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.


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Ted Medina published a tribute .

Shirly,
Sorry for your loss, you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Ted & Cindy


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Erik Starkey published a tribute .

Grandad you will be missed, you were the smartest, most generous man I know and I can only hope to be a small percentage of the man you were. I love you and will miss you. I'm sure you and the Lord will be hard at work solving all the worlds math problems, little does he know you already have them figured out. RIP SUPERBELLY!!


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