Mr. Arthur Gene Smith

A celebration of the life of Mr. Arthur Gene “A. Gene” Smith, 98, of Henderson, will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at First Baptist Church, with Dr. David Higgs officiating. The family will receive friends at a reception in the mall area of the church immediately following the service. A family graveside service will be held at Buckner Cemetery under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. Mr. Smith passed from this life to his home in Heaven on March 21, 2026, at his residence in Henderson. He was born November 20, 1927, in Pinehill, to the late Burl and Wincie (Buckner) Smith. He lived in Rusk County all of his life, except during his military service and college years. Mr. Smith graduated from Henderson High School in 1945 and then entered the United States Army, where he served as a lab technician, stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, during World War II. A. Gene attended The University of Texas at Austin, graduating in May 1952. He began his teaching career that same year in Gaston ISD, teaching physical science, biology, chemistry, and physics. While teaching at Gaston, he attended Stephen F. Austin State University, where he received his master’s degree in 1954. In 1957, Mr. Smith moved to Henderson High School, where he taught biology, chemistry, and physics. During the 1965–66 and 1966–67 school years, he served as assistant principal and chemistry teacher before being named principal of Henderson High School. For the next 25 years, his leadership at HHS helped shape generations of Lions and left a lasting impact on the campus. He retired on June 30, 1992, after 42 years of service in Texas public schools. Mr. Smith married Barbara Wright on March 6, 1953, a union that spanned 58 years and was blessed with two loving children. He was a man of deep faith, having been saved at an early age at Roquemore Baptist Church. He loved his Lord, his family, his church, his students, his staff, and his friends. He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church, where he served on numerous church committees and as one of the Sunday School General officers for many years. Gene was part of a generation that knew hard work and dedication. He was a rancher who loved his farm. He enjoyed gardening—a skill that benefited his immediate family and many others in the community year-round—and he also enjoyed fishing and hunting. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Ann Smith, Barbara’s parents Truman and John Wright, sister-in-law and her husband Neva and Adrian Burk, and his brother-in-law, Talmadge Dowden. Survivors include his children, Gena Smith Gardiner and husband Phil, and Steve Smith; his sister, JoAnne Dowden; granddaughter Elizabeth and husband John Tyson; great-grandchildren JT and Hunter Tyson, all of Henderson; and a host of cousins, extended family, many friends, former students, and colleagues. The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to the “Gene Team”—Teresa Strong, Tameeka Harris, Lois Windom, Jessica Renfro, William Renfro, and Nurse Traci Allen—along with the Vital Care Team and the Kindful Hospice Team, for their compassionate care and support. Honorary pallbearers will be Joel Hale, Cliff Harkless, Anthony Berry, Jimmy Sanders, Mark Gibson, Cliff Hurt, Don Howard, Lee Gearheart, David Velvin, Milton McGee, Ronnie Pruitt, Jessie Williams, Phil Gardiner, John Tyson, JT Tyson, Hunter Tyson, and Henderson ISD past and present educators. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church Children’s Building Fund, 207 W. Main St., Henderson, TX 75652; the Henderson ISD Education Foundation, P.O. Box 728, Henderson, TX 75653; or the Buckner Cemetery Association, 1203 Westwood Dr., Henderson, TX 75654. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Mr. Arthur Gene Smith

November 20, 1927 - March 21, 2026