Phyllis Smith

ARLINGTON - Phyllis "Grannie" Lenette Jordan Smith, 86, a funeral motorcycle escort service owner, died Wednesday, September 14, 2011, at her home in Arlington. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Phyllis' name to her favorite charities: Smile Train and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. A high school graduate at the age of sixteen, Phyllis attended one year of classes at Texas Wesleyan University before becoming a secretary in the mechanical office at Swift Packing Company. In 1946, she married Ruel C. Smith, a motorcycle officer for the Fort Worth Police Department. In 1963, the couple helped form the Fort Worth Motor Escort Service, providing motorcycle escorts for funerals. She continued to run FWMES from her home until February of this year, when she handed over primary responsibilities to her daughter, Jill, but stayed involved in the company's operations. She loved music, was known to have "a song for everything" and led singing for Memorial Assembly of God, a church founded and pastored by her sister and brother-in-law, from its founding in 1948 to its closure in 2005. Phyllis' role as mother, grandmother and great-grandmother was her most important, though. She was proud to be known as Grannie and to her, that was her "real" name. The love she poured into every interaction she had with her dearly loved daughter, grandchildren and great-grandson was the outgrowth of a sweetness of spirit that was sensed by everyone who knew her. It was her love for Jesus that fueled her desire to care for others and it was in his name that she prayed fervently and daily for her family. Her energy, her vitality, her humor and her musical soul have been warmly welcomed into the presence of Christ and will be deeply missed by all who love her until we meet again. Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Ruel C. Smith; parents, James and Mattie Jordan; brother, Jimmie D. Jordan and sister, Gethrol Barnes. Survivors: Daughter and son-in-law, Jill and Richard Neece; granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Kasey and Brian Fielder; grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Kevin and Melissa Neece and great-grandson Aidan Neece; nieces and a nephew To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Phyllis Smith please visit our Sympathy Store.