Dan Mansell Smith

Dan Mansell Smith, 80, formally of Rochester, Texas and most recently of Kerrville, Texas passed from this life Friday, April 4, 2014 from injuries sustained in a traffic accident. A gathering will take place from 4:00 p.m. -- 6:00 p.m., Thursday, April 10, 2014 at the home of Dan and Jackie Smith in Kerrville.

The oldest of two children, Dan was brought into this world to Lois (Mansell) and E. Hob Smith on September 24, 1933 at Knox County Hospital in Knox City, Texas.  He attended schools in Rochester, Texas where he enjoyed football, playing the trumpet and driving his Model T Ford.  He graduated in 1951 as salutatorian of the class.

Mr. Smith attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas and received a B.S. Degree in 3 years.  He was active in the Naval ROTC program at Baylor and later served in the U.S. Navy studying in Language and Intelligence with a tour on the 7th Fleet in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dan eventually retuned to the United States as an Admiral's aide at the Pentagon.

His ambition was to return to the family farm in Knox County. He married his soul mate, Jackie Adkins, on June 23, 1961 in Riverside, California and the two made their way to Texas and a new life on the farm.  Dan loved the farm life and also began teaching high school classes in between raising cotton and hereford cattle.  Dan made a hard decision to lease their farm when he began his long career with John Deere International.  John Deere sent Dan and Jackie to many interesting places including Columbia and Peru, but Moline, Illinois became their home.   Dan and Jackie were blessed when God added two beautiful daughters to their family.

At the present time, Dan and Jackie were enjoying retirement, each other, and their grandchildren in Kerrville.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Hob and Lois Smith.

Dan will be dearly missed by his wife of 51 years, Jackie Smith of Kerrville; two daughters, Kelly Wenstrup and husband Dave of Mamaroneck, New York and Jennifer Rosborough of Kerrville; 4 grandchildren, Alexander and Emelyn Wenstrup also of Mamaroneck, New York, and Chase and Brittany Rosborough of San Antonio, Texas; 1 sister, Martha Sue (Smith) McCurley of Haskell, Texas; brother-in-law, David Adkins of Durango, Colorado; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville.  The family invites you to send condolences at www.grimesfuneralchapels.com .