Lura Trichel Jones Smith

Lura Trichel Jones Smith, 79, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Tuesday, August 16, 2011, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Littlefield and raised in Weatherford on her family’s dairy farm, Lura attended Azle High School where she was a majorette and Queen of the May and where she formed friendships that lasted over 65 years with Sue Reams, Alma Foster and McAjo Poole. Lura married Jerry Jones in 1955 and lived in Benbrook, Texas with their two children.  They were active at the First Baptist Church of Benbrook in music and youth ministry.  They were also passionate members of a Bridge Club. In 1971 they moved to San Diego, California.  She worked as a Council Coordinator for Red Carpet Realty and spent many hours in their backyard enjoying card games with her friends and family.  In 1976 the family moved to Brussels, Belgium where she lived and traveled extensively until 1981 when she returned to San Diego and opened a secretarial business and learned the joys of being a grandmother.  In 1994 she returned to Texas and married retired Marine Lt. Colonel Gail Smith, also known as Mr. Wonderful.  They lived in Granbury, Texas until 1999 when they moved to Crowley.  She attended Alsbury Baptist Church, was a member of the Board of Directors of the Crowley Public Library and never missed her morning constitutional coffee with her dear neighbors Doris and Harold Wayland. She was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2009 and brought courage, dignity, and determination to fighting it.  She often shared how blessed her life had been and the wonderful and loving people with whom she shared it.  Lura was determined to live her life fully until the end, which led her to a trip to Hawaii in March and on a Caribbean Cruise in June.  She was at peace and confident in her salvation and eternal rest. Her mother Milrie Trichel, father Clark Trichel, brother Jim Trichel, and husband Gail Smith preceded her in death. Her loved ones include her son Paul Jones, his wife Carolyn and their three children Joshua, Jason, and Daniel; her daughter Vicki Pierce, her husband David, and their three children Amy, Alex, and Katharine; as well as her sister Carolyn Sue Evans, her husband Don, and Sue’s children Kristen, Kyle, and Jennifer; her brother Roland Trichel, his wife Nancy, and their sons Billy, Bobby, and Marcus; the children of her late brother Jim Trichel, Jimmy, Michael, and Cindy; the father of her children, Jerry Jones of Ankara, Turkey, and her stepchildren Marianna Matzenik, Bruce Smith, Henry Smith, and Chris Smith.  She was Aunt Lura or Grandma Lura to a multitude of “adopted” nieces, nephews, and grandchildren and she was a wonderful blessing and friend to everyone she met. Services will be at noon Saturday at Alsbury Baptist Church in Burleson.  Visitation is Friday 6-8 p.m. at Mayfield Kiser Funeral Home, Fort Worth. In lieu of flowers, Lura requested that donations be made to the Crowley Public Library.