Donald L. "Donnie" Smith, age 76, of Electra, Texas, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in Wichita Falls on December 24, 2021.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at Aulds Funeral Home of Electra with Carl Wright, officiating.  Interment will follow in New Electra Cemetery under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home of Electra.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 1:00 p.m. until service time at Aulds Funeral Home.

Donnie was born April 20, 1945 in Vernon, Texas to the late Henry King "Jake" Smith and Lucille Crayton Smith.  He grew up on the Waggoner Ranch. Donnie started attending school in Harrold, Texas and then graduated from Oklaunion High School in Oklaunion, Texas in 1963.  Upon his graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany for three years.  Donnie returned to Electra after his tour of duty, where he worked in the oilfield business, including Lincoln Tank Company and CE. Natco.

Donnie married Reba Britt on February 4, 1972 in Electra.  After their marriage, the couple lived in Houston, Alvin and Seabrook, Texas until the loss of Donnie's father when they moved back home to Electra to be near his mother.  He then started working for Swanson Drilling.  Later, Donnie began driving trucks and drove for over twenty years for various companies, but most notably his brother's company, Lario Transport in Vernon, Texas.  He retired in 2011.

Bird watching was one of Donnie's favorite hobbies.  He spent countless hours doing so to pass the time while out on rural oil leases.  Donnie was an avid historian and had countless study bibles and books.  He was fascinated with the history in the Bible.  Donnie was a very smart man and knew a lot about many different things in life.  He was a collector and enjoyed collecting stamps and coins.  Above all of this; however, was his favorite past time and passion, his grandsons.  Donnie absolutely adored his three grandsons and always made it a point to attend every event they participated in.  He was baptized at and a member of the Rock Crossing Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Reba of Electra; his daugher, Melissa Lee Smith of Burkburnett, Texas; three grandsons, Ryan, Cade and Jace Childs all of Burkburnett; three sisters, Mary Cox of Denton, Texas, Patsy Beebe of San Angelo, Texas and Sarah Cunningham of Seminole, Oklahoma; one brother, Larry Smith of Vernon; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by one sister, Sue Kennedy; a niece, Melanie Owen; and a nephew, Terry Beebe.

The family suggests memorials to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Rd., Wichita Falls, Texas 76310.