Gayle Yvonne Smith

Gayle Yvonne (Ewing) Smith, age 89, passed from this world on September 23, 2025, and carried into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. At the time of her passing, she was residing at Hickory Terrace Assisted Living Facility in Levelland, Texas.

Visitation for family and friends will be on Sunday, September the 28th, from 2 – 4 pm, at the Krestridge Funeral Home, located at 505 Austin Street in Levelland. Funeral services will be held on Monday. September 29th at 2pm, also at Krestridge.

Gayle was born on November 18, 1935, in Uniontown, Arkansas to her parents Edward G. “Eddie” Ewing and Inez M. (Haggard) Ewing. Born during the depression, Gayle’s early years were spent growing up while traveling with her mother and father from job to job, wherever work could be found. With no work in Arkansas or Oklahoma, they struck out for Arizona and California where Ed found work in farm fields. After WWII began, Ed found steady work in an aircraft manufacturing plant located in Yuma, Arizona where Gayle, now 6 years old, first began school. Toward the end of the war, Gayle’s family moved to Meeker, Oklahoma where Ed worked with his father and in 1948, when mother was 13 years old, the family moved to Levelland where Ed began a career as a plumber.

Upon entering school in Levelland, Gayle met Patsy Ruth French. They quickly became the best of friends in a close friendship that would last 74 years until Patsy passed in 2022. In fact, at the end of their lives they were “next door neighbors” at Hickory Terrace. Following graduation from High School in 1953, Patsy met Bill McCulloch and they were soon married while Gayle enrolled in Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) where she majored in drama. In 1955, Gayle’s college career was cut short when she was introduced by Bill and Patsy to Bill McCulloch’s best friend, Bill Smith and in 1956 Gayle married the love of her life.

Their early marriage consisted of hard work with Bill working with his father Walt, to build a new oilfield construction business. Gayle found work as a bookkeeper at the Whitharral Coop Gin. In 1958, Jay, their first child was born and in 1960 their second son, Billy Mark was born. Sadly, Billy Mark was born with medical complications and passed away shortly after birth. In 1964, Gayle and Bill purchased a home with a few acres of land north of town and that is where they lived until Bill’s passing in 2020 and when Gayle moved into Hickory Terrace in 2021. It was in this home in 1970 when they welcomed Melissa (Nowlin) Jenkins into their home who they would come to call daughter. After Walt retired, Bill took over the running of Walt Smith Production Company where Bill ran the business from the field and Gayle ran the office. Later, Bill also formed a partnership with J.T. Pugh to establish a second business, S&P Well Treating Service. Gayle oversaw the book end of this business as well. The marriage and partnership, to say the least, was very successful.

Gayle and her husband Bill enjoyed community service. Together they held down positions and gave a large amount of support to organizations such as the Levelland Booster Club, the Levelland & Hockley County Livestock Show and were huge supporters of South Plains College. Although community leaders, they were above all servants in the way of Christianity. They were both long time members of the First Christian Church in Levelland where they made some of their best and longest lasting friendships and where wonderful memories were made. Bill served the church first as a deacon and later as an elder, while Gayle was the many years long song leader and soloist.

Gayle’s passion was singing, and even in her final years she sang beautifully as the employees and residents of Hickory Terrace would attest. On Gayle’s last day before being taken to her heavenly home, after having eaten supper, she gathered with some of her Hickory Terrace friends in the community living area and she sang. Shortly after having sung her final song, she paddled her wheelchair back to her room, and there her angel came to escort her home. Gayle passed peacefully having done what she loved the most and there is no doubt she continues with her songs in heaven, in the presence of her savior and with her loving husband and youngest son once more at her side.

Gayle leaves behind her eldest son Jay Smith, daughter-in-law Celia, daughter Melissa Jenkins, Grandson Patrick Smith, Granddaughter Courtney Jenkins and Great-Grandson Grayson Jenkins. She is preceded in death by her husband Bill Smith, youngest son, Billy Mark Smith, parents, Ed and Inez Ewing, and brother Robert “Bobby” Ewing.

In lieu of flowers, the family recommends making a memorial donation to the South Plains College Memorial Fund by clicking on the link below:

https://southplainscollege.ejoinme.org/

Alternatively, you may contact Samantha Goldie with the SPC Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 806-716-2020.

Services with integrity, pride, and honor are under the direction of Krestridge Funeral Home. (806) 897-1111