Teddy Joe Smith's Obituary
Teddy Joe Smith was also known as Ted J. Smith. To his children, he was daddy. To his granddaughters, he was Papa. To his wife of 62 years, he was Angel. Ted was born March 25, 1938 in Gainesville, Texas. He enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17 in May 1955. He married the love of his life, Martha Louise Cady, on August 3, 1957. After his honorable discharge from the Navy on March 20, 1959, Ted settled in the Dallas area with his wife, who he called Marty, and first son, Jammie, where his second son, Christopher, and his daughter, Pamela, were born. Ted completed carpentry training with the Carpenters and Joiners Union and became a journeyman carpenter. He taught himself many aspects of construction including blue print reading, architecture, design, and all phases of construction. In 1982, Ted began working as a field super intendant for national construction companies. He traveled the United States, accompanied by his ever present wife, building and remodeling many different restaurants such as Hardrock Café, Olive Garden, Maggiano’s, Cracker Barrel, On the Border, Dave and Buster’s, Cheesecake Factory, China Coast, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, and many more. Ted also built retail stores for companies such as CVS Pharmacy, Pier 1 Imports, and Payless Shoe Store. Ted considered his building projects to be his works of art. Like all artists he left his special signature on each one by personally engraving the names of each of his granddaughters somewhere on the outside of the building. Ted was a much sought after super intendant that took great care and pride in his projects. However, the most important and precious thing to him was his family. He devoted his entire life nurturing, protecting, and providing for them. Ted enjoyed deep sea fishing, walking on the beach with his Marty, gardening, repairing things around the house, dancing, and playing Forty-Two. Ted was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and underwent surgery. In early 2016, the cancer reappeared and spread. Ted began a courageous fight with cancer and never gave up hope. In November 2017, his first oncologist gave up on him stating that nothing else could be done and that Ted should simply prepare to die. However, Ted refused to accept defeat and did not give up. With the care and support of his family, especially his wife, Ted found a more hopeful and caring oncologist, Dr. Gavin Melmed, in Garland, Texas. Ted continued to fight against the odds given by his first oncologist and lived a good and happy life for another year. On January 12, 2019, Ted passed this life as he lived it, with honor and dignity, loving his family to his last breath, and surrounded by his wife and three children. His family is left with many wonderful memories of events made special by their husband and daddy. Ted is survived by his wife, Martha Louise Smith, his son, Teddy James “Jammie” Smith, his son Christopher Louis Smith, his daughter Pamela Genise Smith, two daughters-in-law, Debbie Smith and June Smith, son-in-law, Lawrence Kennedy, five granddaughters, Stephanie Collatt, Genise Kennedy, Paige Kennedy, Katelyn Smith, and Gillian Smith, and two great- granddaughters, Harlee and Danika.
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