Doniece (Crawford) Smith

“God looked around his garden and found an empty space, He then looked down upon the earth and saw your tired face. He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest, God's garden must be beautiful, He always takes the best.”

By Melissa Shreve

Doniece Smith, 91, of San Augustine peacefully passed away surrounded by her family on November 6, 2025 at Stone Creek Care Center. 

Visitation will be held Friday, November 14, 2025, at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with her Celebration of Life on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at her Garden Gazebo at 196 Smith Lake Rd. San Augustine. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 at Thomas Cemetery on Hwy 21.

Doniece was the first of five daughters born to Linnis and Ferrol Crawford of San Augustine, Texas in 1934. From her humble childhood, she created a foundation based on her faith, a connection with nature and a deep-rooted sense of tradition while maintaining and growing family unity. 

Doniece attended San Augustine High School where she met the love of her life, Larry Smith and countless other lifelong and cherished friends. She graduated Valedictorian of the Class of 1951. After graduation, she attended a local business college which turned her path to city life. As a young couple, Larry and Doniece moved their growing family to Houston where they raised four kids and she earned her way up the Sears corporate ladder.  During her working years and raising her family, visiting other places became a passion.  Traveling to Europe with church friends, tracing their father’s bloodline with “the sisters” in Scotland, cruising to Alaska and of course, summers in the Colorado mountains, mom’s desire to see God’s handiwork was evident.

After retirement in 1986, Larry and Doniece began a new chapter that would bring them back to their roots.  Doniece’s dream of becoming a master gardener and a landscaping artist manifested in the reopening of Smith Flowergardens in San Augustine, Texas.  Her yard was a wonderland of Old English roses, lilies and irises where her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren have and will continue to sow the seeds of God’s gift of wonder.

Doniece was a faithful and devoted member of the Northwest (Houston) Church of Christ and the San Augustine Church of Christ where she often volunteered her time and gave gifts of floral arrangements that began in her garden.  She expressed her love of Christ through her ability to reach out and help those in need.  

Her passion for history inspired her to find multiple ways to connect with the community she loved so dearly.  This included being a long term member of the Historical Society and Garden Club.  

From her love of gardening to her sisters’ adventures, she has built a legacy that will continue to live on through us all.

She is survived by sister, Julia Crawford Walker and husband Randy of Princeton, Louisiana; son, Steve Smith and wife Laura of San Augustine; son, Glenn Smith and wife Teresa of Pinehurst; daughter, Lisa Meier of San Augustine, and Sharon Barbee of Pueblo, Colorado; grandchildren, William Meier of Connecticut, Lyndsey Meier of Willis, Seth Smith and wife Courtney of Columbus, Cole Smith and wife Krissy of Cypress, Garrett Meier and wife Courtney of Conroe, Noelle Smith of  Houston, Jordan Smith of Houston, Weston Meier of Nacogdoches and Logan Barbee and wife Cassidy of Tyler,  Sara and husband Mike Swift of Houston, Kara and husband Brian Jackson of Austin,  Andy Rabon of San Diego; Twenty-two great-grands: Mitchell, Clark, Patrick, Charlotte, Oliver, Violet, Finn, Kadmiss, Noble, Lillian, Elena, Rowan, Lillian (Doniece), Wesley, Alyssa, Will, Grayson, Madi, Noah, Zoë, Lincoln and Liam. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Linnis and Ferrol Crawford; her husband, Larry Smith; and sisters Ann Crawford, Edna Merle Wheless, and Nayona Millard. 

In lieu of flowers, family request charitable donations to be made to The Historical Society of San Augustine and San Augustine Garden Club.

Visit www.wymanrobertsfh.com for memories and condolences. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Wyman Roberts Funeral Home in San Augustine, Texas.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Doniece (Crawford) Smith, please visit our floral store.