Gretta Elizabeth Smith

Gretta Elizabeth Smith SONORA Gretta Elizabeth Smith went to be with her heavenly father at the age of 105, on September 6, 2016. Gretta was born Jan. 2, 1911, in Mercury, Texas, to the late Roscoe E. Cawyer and Fannie Johnson Cawyer. She received her teaching degree from Tarleton College and then moved to Sonora in 1931 to teach at the L.W. Elliott School. On Feb. 8, 1932, she married her one and only love, George E. (Bud) Smith. Through the course of their marriage, they owned and operated the Sonora Grocery Store and later built and operated the Twin Oaks Motel for several years. After Bud's death in 1973, Gretta continued operating the motel for nine more years before retiring. She was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and a Christian inspiration to all who knew her. Gretta lived her long life with one goal in mind, to keep God's Commandments. Now she has her home with the Lord whom she loved and trusted to get her through her long years on earth. She was an example of what God wants us to be. Gretta is survived by her daughter, Beverly Howard of Sonora; and her son, Eddie and wife Vanetta Smith of Sonora. She was blessed with her grandchildren: Debbie and husband Robert Hard of Sonora, Curtis Howard of Palm Springs, California, Duray and wife Celia Smith of Odessa, Daphney and husband Stanley Adams of Sonora, and Devoe and wife Melanie Smith of Sonora. Gretta also cherished her nine great-grandchildren and her five great-great-grandchildren. Services to honor Gretta Elizabeth Smith will be held graveside at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, in Sonora Cemetery. Memorials are to be sent to Sonora Church of Christ, P.O. Box 333, Sonora, TX 76950. ~ Don't think of me as gone, for my journey has just begun. My life's work has been to prepare for the time that I can be with My Lord. ~ . ]