Roy Huston Smith

Roy Huston Smith was born December 15, 1935, in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas. He was the youngest of 11 children. Roy grew up on his parents working farm. After he finished his chores, Roy was allowed to go to a neighbor’s farm to earn money. He would hoe cotton for a dollar a mile. After Roy’s father passed when he was 14, he and his mother moved to West Helena Arkansas. Roy attended School with Conway Twitty, who went on to be a major country western star and was a friend of Roy’s. Roy always had a love for country western and Texas country swing music. When he was much younger, Roy produced several country western music shows in Houston, at various clubs on Old Hempstead Highway. He had a friendship with Patsy Cline. He always looked forward to going with his daughter Liz to country western musical shows at the Crocket Civic Center, sponsored by the Piney Woods Fine Arts Association, also attending events in Lovelady and in Houston. On Saturday nights, if Roy and Liz were not going to a live show, he could always be found watching the Grand Ole Opry, Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, and of course Hee-Haw. Living in Crockett provided him with the opportunity to see and meet many Country Western artists and musicians. When he was 15, he convinced his mother to allow him to move to Houston to live with his sister Viola and brother in-law, Ruben McIlwain, along with their 5 children, who were all like brothers and sisters to him. On arriving in Houston, Roy found a job working as a service station attendant at a Sinclair Gas Station located at the corner of Chimney Rock and Westheimer. He worked for the owner, JT Graham who was from Crockett, Texas. It was while working for Mr. Graham that Roy met his lifelong best friend, Billy Graham, Mr. Graham’s son. Roy and Billy remained best friends until Billy’s death. Roy went to work for McIlwain Brothers Air Conditioning and Heating Service. He worked there for many years and joined the company Bowling League. Roy was a devoted team member and enjoyed the competition of bowling and the comradery of being with his coworkers, friends, and family. Roy especially enjoyed working with and being with his nephew Clarence McIlwain who was like a brother to him. On April 7, 1966, Roy married Deanna Brateman, the love of his life. They had been married for 49 years at the time of Deanna’s death. Deanna had three children who Roy loved and legally adopted as his own, Elizabeth, William, and Robert. Roy became involved in the Boy’s activities including Boy Scouts and umpiring little league. He bought his sons a go cart. Roy built a track behind the house at the farm for racing three and four wheelers. Roy went to work for his father-in-law Sam Brateman, who owned a mattress manufacturing company known as Sanitary Mattress in Houston. Roy was responsible for the production side of the business. After working at Sanitary Mattress for several years and learning the business, he and Deanna opened their own mattress business known as Quality Mattress. Eventually, Roy was needed back at Sanitary Mattress, and he went back to work for Sanitary after several years of running his own mattress production business to help Sanitary Mattress in a supervisory position. In 1970, Roy and Deanna purchased 50 acres which they called the farm north of Crockett Texas near Belott. Roy retired from Sanitary Mattress so he and Deanna could move to, and live, at the farm full time. Roy dabbled in cattle, such as Beefalo, and Charolaise. Soon, Roy and Deanna opened Smith Mattress at their farm, and ran a successful business there on weekends for many years. The property now includes a Pine Tree Farm. Roy always loved living on the farm. He always preferred a rural lifestyle and living in a smaller town such as Crockett. Roy always said he could not wait to get out of the big city and get back to Crockett. Roy was a man of few words, and a man of his word. If something was broken, he would fix it. Roy always could be found working on a project. When one got finished, he started another. In addition to Deana and his children, Roy loved his mother, and siblings dearly, as well as his many nieces, nephews, and cousins (too many to list). He was very involved with his family and loved them all. Roy passed away peacefully on December 20, 2022, after receiving tremendous love and care from all of the staff at the Houston County Nursing Home in Crockett Texas. A graveside service will be held Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 2 PM, at Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonnet St., 77074. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Roy Huston Smith

December 15, 1935 - December 20, 2022