Donald Gee Smith was born Oct. 24, 1934, in Longview being the only son of Sam B. and Pearl Smith.  
Donald passed away May 3, 2022, at the age of 87.  
He graduated from Wortham High School in 1953, was employed as a Dallas firefighter from 1955 to 1968, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1957 to 1961 and attended SMU law school from 1963-1965 while working in the fire department.  
He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1966 and practiced law in Dallas County until 1978 when he moved to Cedar Creek Lake where he lived and practiced law until the present.  
Donald served as Gun Barrel City city attorney and municipal judge in the 1980s.  He was appointed as Master in the 255th District Court in Dallas by the Honorable Don Koons in the late 1970s.  
He loved law practice and stated many times that he would like to die in the courtroom trying a case.
During his many years of private law practice, he had the privilege of advising young lawyers about the pros and cons of law practice. His advice was basically to “do your best, try to enjoy your profession, and have fun in doing so. Because if you don’t, you could wind up in Terrell State Hospital.”  
Donald was a member of the Lakeview Assembly of God Church in Seven Points since 1978 where he was a regular soloist. He was much remembered for a song that he sang every Mother’s Day entitled, “Hello Mama” which brought many tears to the congregation. 
Donald loved his mother. She spent the last years of her life in Mabank Nursing Home where he visited her everyday, sometimes twice a day. He considered this to be a real privilege.  
In his younger years Donald enjoyed riding Harleys, playing music, fishing, hunting and flying his plane to Mexico where he owned an interest in a fishing camp on Lake Novillo – a relaxing retreat where there were no phones or electricity.  
Don loved country music and had his own country and western band during his years in Dallas County playing at various clubs in the DFW area including Big O Jamboree, Panther Hall, Longhorn Ballroom, Louisiana Hayride, Debonair Danceland and many others.  His band also played at most of the Dallas County Courthouse functions and many Dallas Police Department functions in the 1970s.  
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters, wife Pat Smith in 1996 and wife Peggy Smith in 2010.  
He is survived by his daughter Donna Philips, of Lubbock, son Todd Smith of Flower Mound, stepdaughters Denise and Diane Hill of Mabank and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  
You are all welcome to attend Don Smith’s going away party at Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home. He made it clear that he wants a happy funeral.  No tears of sadness.  Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, May 12, 2022.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.eubankcedarcreek.com.