Audrey Smith

Audrey Louise Ragsdale Smith died peacefully Sunday morning in Odessa, Texas, April 11, 2021, at the Courtyards Assisted Living and Memory Care residential facility in Odessa.

Audrey was born in Waxahachie, Texas on August 9, 1922 to Crockett and Leola Ragsdale.  She graduated from Waxahachie High School and went on to attend what is now the University of North Texas, where she received her BS degree in physical education.  She later received her master’s degree from what is now UTEP.

Audrey began teaching in Orange, Texas in 1943.  It was there she met her future husband, Robert H. Smith.  They were married in 1945 and moved to El Paso.  In 1952 they moved to Odessa, where Audrey taught at Rusk and Goliad Elementary Schools, before retiring as a visiting teacher in 1985.

After the death of her husband in 1986, Audrey kept busy with many hobbies such as exercising and square dancing.  But it was traveling that she really enjoyed.  She visited most of the states in the United States and over forty foreign countries.

Audrey is survived by her daughter, Susie Girard, and her husband Fred; her grandson, Bob Girard and his wife Lauren and their children, Cameron and Jack; her grandson, Paul Girard and his wife Lindsey and their daughter, Reese; sister-in-law, Beryl Ragsdale.

She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister Wilma Dove, and her brothers, Billy Ragsdale and Glen Ragsdale.

A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

The family would like to thank the great staff at the Courtyards for their care and also Hospice of Odessa.

Memorials may be sent to “Children’s Clothes Closet” at First United Methodist Church, 415 N Lee, Odessa, TX, 79761.