Attorney John R. Smith , 74, of Center, passed away Wednesday, August 6, 2014 in San Augustine.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, August 8, 2014 at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 9, 2014 at Watson & Sons Chapel with Rev. Carl Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.

John Russell Smith, aka "John R", was born in Knox County, Texas on March 31, 1940 to John Pate and Lois Louise "Honey" Smith. John R grew up in Carlsbad, New Mexico where he graduated from Carlsbad High School. While in high school, in the fall of 1957, he was the All State Quarterback for his football team and led them to winning the State Championship. He was the Vice President of the Student Council and he also played on the All State Basketball Team. His talent as an athlete prompted Texas Christian University to offer him a full basketball scholarship. After graduating from TCU, John R went to work for the State of Nevada, serving as the personnel director for the State of Nevada. While working as the director, the Governor of Nevada persuaded John R to attend law school. He graduated from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas in 1973. He moved to Center, Texas and began his career as an attorney. His first position was in the Law Offices of Bill Griffin. However, he soon realized he had his own way of doing things and hung out his own shingle and thus began the legendary "Law Offices of John R. Smith." During his career, he represented clients all over the United States, in both Federal Courts as well as State Courts. He served as the elected Shelby County District Attorney for a time. However, no matter what attorney "hat" he was wearing, he always represented his clients vigorously. He never cared with whom he was arguing or who he was making mad. His first concern was always, first and foremost, his client. Up to the date of his death, he continued to practice law, seeking justice and fairness for each and every client he represented.

When not practicing law, John R loved to travel. He and his wife Cindy made yearly trips to New Mexico, Colorado, and Cancun, Mexico. John R also loved his "family" time with his beloved pets. Paco, Bogey, Maggie and Patron will miss the TLC he reaped upon them daily. He and Cindy also loved to go to the lake with their Pontoon Boat. During hunting season, it was not uncommon to see him speeding out of town, headed for the deer lease and all the tall tales he and all his hunting buddies would tell around the campfire. When he had the time, he also loved to play golf. In 2006, he entered a golf tournament at Moon Palace in Cancun, Mexico along with 300 other golfers. John R won first place and brought home prizes in excess of $15,000. He served for a time as President of the Center Country Club and was responsible for organizing and making the Calcuttas held each year at the Country Club a huge success. In his more mischievous moments (and there were many of them), he loved to "exterminate" the frogs in the beautiful pond he and Cindy built on their back patio. It is located directly under his bedroom window, and he said the frogs were too noisy and kept him from sleeping. So, regularly, he would get the Clorox bottle, dump the Clorox into the pond, and smile that John R smile as Cindy would fuss about the poor frogs.

John R was also an accomplished writer. His book "Redneck Country, Black Letter Law" was an intriguing novel and had many people in Shelby County asking when the next book would be released. He was working on three other books at the time of his death.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church and has been a member of Dr. Joe Hooker's Sunday School Class for many years.

John R is survived by his loving wife and constant companion Cindy Conway Smith; his son John Russell Smith, Jr. and his spouse Mark Dunn of Tampa, Florida; his sisters Nancy Lambert and her husband Don of Kentucky and Rita Smith of Reno, Nevada; sister and brother in law Barbara Conway and Robert Earl Bailey of Nacogdoches; many other nieces, nephews, and other family too numerous to mention.

He was preceded in death by his parents John Pate Smith and Lois Louise "Honey" Smith and mother and father in law, Mr. and Ms. W.O. Conway.

Pallbearers will be Phil Hennigan, Dr. Dixon Golden, Billy Bob McAdams, Josh McAdams, Don Stewart, Victor Crawford, Burley Lamb and Jerry Agnew. Honorary pallbearers will be Weldon Boles, L.V. "Toptsy" Williams, and George Bowers.

Memorial donations may be made in Mr. Smith's name to American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123-1718 or American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, PO Box 96929, Washington, DC 20090-6929.