Susan Lynn Brown-Smith 1959-2024

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Susan Lynn Brown-Smith passed away Aug. 28, 2024 at a local Tyler hospital after a brief illness.

Susan was born Oct. 29, 1959 in Dunkirk, N.Y. to the late Glenn and Beverly Brown. Susan graduated from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1981 with a teaching degree in mathematics. She taught high school math in Vermont, New York and Maryland before meeting her husband, Bruce T. Smith, while in Maryland and marrying May 24, 1987. 

Susan found out what life as a wife of a U.S. Marine was as she and Bruce were stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.; Naval Ordnance Station Indianhead, Md.; and MCAS Iwakuni, Japan before retiring in April 1999 from MCAS Beaufort. Susan and Bruce moved to Manassas Park, Va. as Bruce was hired first with the U.S. Department of State then back to the Department of Defense. Susan and Bruce returned to East Texas in September 2005 where Susan became involved in her family church and participated in many mission outreach programs to include a mission trip to mainland China for three weeks in October 2009.

In 2010, Susan answered the call to the ministry with the United Methodist Church as a local pastor, first serving with the First United Methodist Church of Fruitvale, the Colfax Circuit in Van, First United Methodist Church of Grand Saline and then assignment as associate pastor at Fairwood United Methodist Church in Tyler.

Susan was preceded in death by her father, Glenn Brown, and her mother, Beverly Brown of Fredonia, N.Y.; and by her son, Timothy Jackson Smith of Bryan.

Susan is survived by her husband of 37 years, Bruce T. “Tim” Smith of Mineola; daughter, Brittany Ann (Smith) Garrett of Jacksonville, Fla.; grandsons, Jorden Smith of Middleburg, Fla., Koley Williams of Mineola and Everett Jackl of Jacksonville, Fla.; granddaughter, Saylor Smith and daughter-in-law Skyla Smith of Bryan; along with various nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at Lowe-Gardner Funeral Home in Quitman. Services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6, 2024 at Smith Chapel Methodist Church, 670 FM 1804, Mineola under the direction of Lowe-Gardner Funeral Home of Quitman with committal to follow at New Hope Cemetery.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Hospice of East Texas or Fairwood United Methodist Church, Tyler, Texas in Susan’s memory.