Durrell Smith Obituary

SMITH, Durrell P. "Buddy", DDS Durrell "Buddy" Padgitt Smith, loving husband, father, grandfather, loyal friend, and retired dentist, passed away on his birthday, January 22, 2026, at the age of 78. Born in Dallas, Texas, on January 22, 1948, to Mary Blanche Padgitt and Olin Welborn Smith, Buddy was a fifth-generation Texan. He grew up in Dallas with his siblings Bodey, Rusty, and "Sugar" Mai, and attended Pershing Elementary School, Franklin Junior High, and Hillcrest High School. Buddy served as vice president of his senior class at Hillcrest in 1966 and was a member of the Hillcrest Panther football team, which won the city championship that same year in the playoffs. He loved recalling the glory days of that football team with his family and teammates. Buddy met Janey in the Spring of 1967 through mutual friends and both said it was "love at first sight." Buddy was known for affectionately bringing Tyler roses to Janey and kissing her at every red light. Janey and Buddy were inseparable and married in 1968. They welcomed their first son, Durrell Jr., the following year. Buddy attended Tyler Junior College, Southern Methodist University, and ultimately graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington. He then began his dental journey as a student at Baylor School of Dentistry, where he and Janey made several lifelong friends, hosting memorable parties throughout the years. Together, they were the "hosts with the most," always greeting guests with their choice of libation. After graduating from dental school in 1974, the family moved to Denison, Texas, where they welcomed their daughter, Jean. A year later, the Smiths relocated to Greenville, Texas, where Buddy opened his private dental practice. Later that year, they celebrated the arrival of their son, Kyle. Buddy was a pillar of the community. He played guitar in his beloved band, Blast from the Past, and performed year after year in the Greenville Follies. He coached youth sports for his kids at the Greenville YMCA, served as President of the Greenville Rotary Club-where he was honored as Rotarian of the Year-served as President of the GHS Football Booster Club, and sat on the boards of the Greenville YMCA, Greenville Club Lake and Kavanaugh United Methodist Church. Additionally, he was the president of the North Texas Dental Society. Buddy shared his love of snow skiing with his kids, spending every spring break on the slopes in Colorado from the time they could walk. He cherished his many days sailing on his boat, Cheers, at Lake Texoma, winning several regattas with his brother Bodey, playing golf at Oak Creek Country Club and Webb Hill Country Club, water skiing with his kids in the hot Texas summers, and taking epic family road trips in the van, which was family bonding at its finest. In 2005, he expanded his dental practice to proudly welcome his son, Kyle, as a new dental partner. They worked alongside each other at Smith Family Dentistry from 2005 until Buddy's retirement in 2022. In Buddy's later years, his Greenville Club Lake friends and "Boys Night Out" buddies were incredibly meaningful to him. Greenville Club Lake and Buddy and Janey's lake house were the source of countless cherished memories for Buddy, his family, and his friends. "Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears." - John Lennon Buddy is survived by his best friend and wife of 57 years, Janey, of Greenville; son Durrell "Bud" Padgitt Smith Jr. and wife Michelle, and their children Juliana, Tatum, and Crockett, of Dallas; daughter Jean Smith Schendle and husband Matthew, and their children Cooper, Lily, and Margot, of Dallas; and son Kyle Matthew Smith and wife Holly, and their children Lydia and Carter, of McKinney. He is also survived by siblings Bodey Smith and wife Betty, of Dallas; Rusty Smith and wife Lynne, of Los Angeles; Mai Brown and husband Paul, of Forney; and sister-in-law Peggy Lohr and husband Bill, of Plano, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home on February 1st at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be directed to UT Southwestern Medical Center, P.O. Box 910888, Dallas, TX 75391-0888 or online at engage.utsouthwestern.edu/donate-now to support the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases.