Kenneth Wayne "Ken" Smith

Kenneth Wayne “Ken” Smith was born on August 20, 1936, in Nacogdoches, Texas to the late Lester E. Smith and Lois (Allred) Smith, and died on December 15, 2024, in Lufkin, Texas.

At an early age Ken learned the value of hard work and of serving others from his parents. His father owned and operated the City Bus Lines in Nacogdoches, and his mother started her own insurance agency in Nacogdoches. Even though they were hard workers, they always took the time to help others, whether it was helping those who were hungry, sharing their faith or picking up others to take them to church, the grocery store or wherever they needed to go, a characteristic that Ken carried on.

While still in high school, Ken was a paper boy for the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel and then started his own business mowing lawns and delivering the Houston Post in Nacogdoches. After graduating from Nacogdoches High School in 1954, Ken spent two years in the US Army and attended evening classes at Fort Smith Junior College. In 1958 he enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin (while working two part time jobs) and graduated in 1960 with a BBA in Accounting. He worked at Arthur Anderson in Houston until moving to Lufkin in 1962 where he started his own accounting firm.

Ultimately, while Ken had a long and successful career as a CPA, his interest in real estate development was the area where he thrived. He enjoyed the process of bringing ideas for projects to fruition through negotiating site purchases, leases, arranging financing and dealing with the people to bring businesses to the community. Notable projects that he was instrumental in bringing to Lufkin included Lufkin Mall, Brentwood Crossing (current location of Sam’s and Wal-Mart in Lufkin), Towne Square Shopping Center, Gaslight Medical Park, and numerous Wal-Mart locations across East Texas, among many others.

In 1994 Ken also organized Physicians of East Texas, an independent physician’s association in response to needs of his physician clients in dealing with the challenges of managed care. Over the years, Ken continued to assist and expand the medical community through recruitment of physicians to the area and served many physicians, both on a professional and personal level as an advisor and friend.

Despite all of his business and professional successes, the two things that were the most important to Ken were his relationship with the Lord and his wonderful family. He was a faithful member of Lufkin’s First Church of the Nazarene, serving in numerous leadership capacities over the years. His most significant accomplishment and evidence of his faith was the organization of the local branch of Love INC (Love in the Name of Christ), a non-profit organization and ministry of the churches of Angelina County that helps partner churches expand their reach in the community, linking needs of those in the community to caring and capable help from church volunteers.

Ken was married to his beautiful wife of 68 years, Judith Ann Caldwell, and they had two daughters, Nanette and Aimee, who were the lights of his life.  He was always proud of the fact that he was fortunate to work with both of his daughters. His daughter, Nanette, is a real estate broker and the administrator of Ken Smith Interests, Inc. and worked with him on development projects. His daughter, Aimee, is an attorney who handled the legal work for their projects.

Ken is survived by his wife, Judith Ann Smith, his daughter, Nanette Ann Childers and her husband, Ray Childers, his daughter, Aimee Cherie Slusher and her husband, Scott Slusher, grandchildren, Zachary Childers, Colton Childers, Lauren Slusher, and Hannah Slusher, and great-grandchildren, Emma Wilson and Terra Childers. He is also survived by his sister, Melba Rock and her husband, Ron Rock, of McAllen, Texas, by an adoptive sister, Joanne Mueller, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Jerry Spann, Brad Rock, Darryl Rock, Victor Caldwell, Trey Casper, and Randy Waggoner.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Love INC, Lufkin First Church of the Nazarene, or the Nacogdoches High School Alumni Association.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Friday afternoon at Lufkin’s First Church of the Nazarene, 1604 S. Medford Drive, Lufkin, Texas, with services to immediately follow at 2:00 pm.  Graveside services will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

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

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.