Joan Elizabeth Colvin (Smith)

Visitation for Joan Elizabeth Colvin (Smith), 76, of Lufkin will be held Wednesday, April 16, 2025 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Carroway Funeral Home. Burial will be in Newton Church Cemetery in Delhi, Louisiana.

Mrs. Colvin (Smith) was a long time resident of Lufkin and former teacher and principal. She was born September 4, 1948 in Dubach, Louisiana and passed away Saturday, April 12, 2025 in Lufkin, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her father, Arthur Warren Colvin, Sr. and mother, Gloria Deane Newton Colvin; sister, Susan Annette Colvin; and brother, Arthur Warren Colvin, Jr. They are now in Heaven, in a place especially prepared for them. She is survived by her brother, Michael Dean Colvin, who will join them one day.

The family lived in Delhi, Shreveport, New Orleans, Covington and Buras, Louisiana. Also in North Dakota. In 1962 we moved to Alaska and lived in Sterling and Kenai. Joan graduated from Kenai Central High School in 1967.  She then attended Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe and received a BA in Elementary Education. She taught 1st grade in New Iberia, Louisiana and then moved to Texas. She taught at Hudson Elementary and then at Huntington Elementary, where she was also Principal for a while, then went back to teaching. She earned a master’s degree in Special Education from Stephen F. Austin State University while teaching.

She loved teaching and enjoyed helping the students learn and become all they could be.

She loved to tell stories. Many were from the early years in Alaska and Louisiana. She had a zest for life and loved to see and add humor into her stories when possible. She could take a five minute story and turn it into a twenty minute adventure, not that any of it was ever embellished or dramatized.

In the years since retirement she has enjoyed renewing contact with friends from the early years and former students on Facebook.

She was also a person of strong beliefs and faith. This helped her and her family through a number of difficult times. Many of her stories were of family in unique times and unique places. She was also a true friend to many, she was caring and faithful to those she considered close friends. She was giving and compassionate, always going above and beyond in everything she did. Hers was a life well lived. She will be missed and fondly remembered.

Her intro on Facebook says, “Lived in the mountains, taught on the bayou, settled in the pines, am retired and lovin’ it.” And she has now started a new and eternal chapter. Stories to be continued …

Memorial contributions may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, North Carolina, 28607.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.