Dennis Gene Smith, age 48, of Wichita Falls, Texas, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, December 12, 2013, at his residence in Wichita Falls.

A vigil service and rosary will be held at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, December 15, 2016, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Scotland, Texas. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, December 16, 2013 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Windthorst, Texas with Rev. Michael Moloney, Vicar of St. Mary's and St. Boniface Catholic Church, and Deacon Don Brown officiating. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery in Windthorst under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City.

Dennis was born November 15, 1965 in Jacksboro, Texas as the third of five children born to Carolyn "Sis" Kermiar Smith and John Paul Smith.

Dennis graduated from Windthorst High School in 1984 and from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls in 1988. He had completed his studies for his Masters Degree in Aquatic Biology from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos but never had the time to complete his thesis because he went to work full time for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1993. He was currently the manager of the state freshwater hatchery at the Dundee State Fish Hatchery near Electra, Texas. Dennis had served on the Executive Committee of the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society for many years.

Dennis was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He was an active member of the Texas Bow Hunter Association. Dennis was happiest while sitting around a campfire on his deer lease in Marble Falls, Texas or at his place near Vernon, Texas.

Survivors include his mother, Carolyn "Sis" Smith of Scotland, his father, John Paul Smith of Loving, Texas; three brothers, Dan Smith and wife, Yvette of Windthorst, David Smith and wife, Lisa of Windthorst, and Dale Wayne Smith of Jacksboro; one sister, Debbie Sissom and husband, Corby of Holliday, Texas and many loved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bob and Ruby Smith and Alfons and Genevieve Kermiar.

Serving as pallbearers will be Christopher Hoadley, Tim Schreiber, Chris Smith, Kevin Smith, Ray Steinberger and Cody Talley.

Dennis was a huge supporter of neighborhood fishing programs, for this reason, the family suggests memorials in honor of Dennis directly to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744. Also, since Dennis had a heart for youth and supported groups that encouraged them to get outdoors, memorials can be sent to the Dennis Smith Memorial at the TCAFS Student Scholarship Endowment, 6505 Freesia Court, Austin, Texas 78739.