It is with great sadness that the family of Marcus “Grumpy” Smith announces his passing on Thursday, April 23, 2020, at the age of 86 years.
He was born September 12, 1933 in Kingsville, Texas, son of the late Charlie C. and Geneva A. (Rudisill) Smith and stepmother Thelma “Tommy” Smith. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years, Rose M (Calvert) Smith, sister, Edna Ann Smith, grandson, Orrin Tyrell Walker and his beloved Labrador Sassy.
Marcus will be lovingly remembered by his sister Betty J. Smith Cornelius, his children, Marcus Smith II, Mary (Kelley) McCorkle, Gary Smith and Ann Walker. Marcus will also be fondly remembered by his eight grandchildren, Beau (Brittany) Smith, Steffanie Thompson, Toby (Tisha) Marek, Preston (Chelsey) Smith, Charles Smith, Bryan Smith, Tell (Sarah) Walker and Misty (Bubba) Bryant and thirteen great-grandchildren, Beau, Cason, Annabelle, Blake, Kennedy, Reagan, Brooklyn, Addison, Emerson, Call, Logan, Jace and Juliet.
Marcus loved his dog Susie, hunting, fishing, telling jokes, making people laugh and spending his afternoons having coffee with friends at Cathy’s Diner. Most of all, he loved being a Shrine clown and portraying himself as “Grumpy” the clown. He enjoyed visiting children who were patients in the orthopedic and burn units at Shrine hospitals in Houston and Galveston; he loved to make them laugh and smile. He also took pride in competing as “Grumpy” at several International Shrine Clown Association competitions, and performing at the Shrine Circus every year. He loved his family and was a great example and role model of a hardworking, caring man with a big heart who was honest and sincere.
Marcus worked as an Instrument Operator at Hoeschst Celanese Corporation for over 30 years. He retired from Celanese, moved to Port O’Connor with his wife in 1992 and became a fishing guide, among many other endeavors. He remained working installing lifts around his surrounding area until his passing. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force as an Airman, Second Class and received a medical Honorable discharge June of 1955.
He was a member of the International Shrine Clown Association as well as, a member of the Texas Shrine Clown Association since 1977. However, he and other Shrine clowns formed a unit in Bay City, Texas called the Town Clown which dissolved years later and he then joined the unit at El Mina Temple in Galveston. Although, Marcus was a lifelong member of the Clown Jewels, a clown unit with the Arabia Shrine Temple in Houston. In regards to being a clown, he once told a reporter “I will give it up when the good man calls him home.” and that’s just what he did.
Marcus was a Scottish Rite Freemason of the Grand Lodge of Texas. He began his brotherhood at the Mission Masonic Lodge No.1061 (1960-1968); initiated February 11,1960, passed his fellow craft May 12, 1960 and raised to Master Mason June 9, 1960 and became Junior Steward June 25, 1961. On October 14, 1968 he joined the Bay City Masonic Lodge #865 AF & AM and became Junior Warden June 24, 1988, Senior Warden June 24,1989 and Worshipful Master June 24, 1990. Although his home Lodge was Bay City, he began a Plural Membership on July 13, 1996 when he joined the Lavaca No .36 Lodge. Here he received his 50 Years Service Award on June 25, 2010, became Junior Steward June 24, 2016 and would have received his 60-year pin this year.
A Memorial Service in memory of Marcus Smith will be held at a later date and announced in the paper.
