Kenneth Ray Smith

Kenneth Ray Smith, 72, of Brock, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. Funeral Service: 2 p.m. Friday, June 11, 2021 at First Baptist Church of Brock, 2111 FM 1189, Brock, 76087. Interment: Brock Cemetery, Brock. Visitation: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 10, 2021 at White’s Funeral Home, 130 Houston Ave., Weatherford, 76086. Kenneth was born in the piney woods of East Texas on June 17, 1948 in the small town of Center, Texas to parents, Judge Murphy (J.M.) and Vernie Smith. He spent the next five years in rural Geneva, Texas and then moved with his parents to Dallas where he started his first year of school. From Dallas, the family moved to Weatherford where Kenneth went to elementary school at Stanley for a while, then to Bowie, and then Travis Elementary. Kenneth finished his school years at Weatherford High School and graduated in 1966 at the old high school on South Main. Starting a working career at an early age was standard for young boys of the 60’s, and Kenneth was no exception. His first job was at age 13, throwing newspapers on a paper route for The Daily Herald and The Democrat. He later sacked and stocked groceries for A.L. Davis, Buddies, and Kimbell grocery stores. After graduating, Kenneth attended Weatherford College for two years. In 1966 Kenneth met Cathy Horn and on October 7, 1967, they were married. By July of 1968, Kenneth and Cathy were blessed with twin boys, Ray and Clay. General Dynamics became his work place before he was admitted to an IBEW electrical trade school in 1969. Four years of electrical trade school provided Kenneth with a journeyman’s electrical license, and he worked several years for a couple of electrical companies in the Fort Worth area. During that time, he became a master electrician, and in 1984 he left the union and later started his own business, Brazos Electrical Contractors. At first Brazos wired mostly residential homes, but the last 30 years the company mainly contracted commercial fast food restaurants like Sonics Drive-Ins. His electrical legacy was passed down to his boys who also became master electricians with their Dad’s helping hand. His employees respected his goodness, his personality, and his electrical knowledge. Just working wasn’t his only objective as an employer. He made a point to teach his men the trade and skills well and encouraged each of them to pursue more training in the field, and many of his employees went on to get their own journeymen’s license as a result. Most of Kenneth’s employees would agree that Kenneth had a big heart and great sense of humor, was fair to all, was generous to his employees and clients, and was someone for whom they enjoyed working. Kenneth centered his life around his family and his God. He accepted Christ as his savior in July of 1967 and was a member of the Brock Baptist Church where for many years he taught Sunday school and RA’s and sang in the choir. For Kenneth, it was about family, and in 2017, he and Cathy celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Kenneth and Cathy moved to Brock shortly after they married. Kenneth was not only involved in his church, but also his community. He served on the Brock School board for about 12 years. Brock became the home where they raised their boys and enjoyed their time together. His two boys were the light of his life. He never missed any of their sporting events, from T-ball to high school sports of all kinds, and spent many years teaching his boys to hunt and fish, hoping they would love it as much as he did. Like their Dad, they do love it. Since the boys were old enough to hold a bb gun, the three have spent untold hours hunting deer, antelope, ducks, and all sorts of game and fishing on tanks, lakes, and the Brazos River. Kenneth and his boys (grown men boys) still spend most every weekend of hunting season(s) on his ranch west of Graham hunting deer and ducks. About five years ago, Kenneth had an eight acre lake built on the ranch for his family to have a place to fish and hunt. Not only did he teach his boys the electrical trade and hunting and fishing skills, he also taught them to be men of good character—to be honest, trustworthy, and to work hard at whatever they did. So many times he has been complemented on what great young men he raised, and that made him smile. His other love was his grandchildren, Hunter and Kiernan Smith. Like his own boys, he spent as much time with the grandkids as he could. They too were the center of his life and blessed him with years of joy. He always said he was a blessed man. He is survived by his wife, Cathy; sons, Ray Smith, and Clay Smith and wife, Amy; his grandchildren, Hunter and Kiernan Smith; close family members, and many friends.