Charles Lee Smith

December 28, 1947 - November 5, 2016

Charles Lee Smith (“Papa Charles”) 68, of Tyler, Texas, rode off on his final adventure to meet his Creator, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on November 5, 2016, in Dallas. Born December 28, 1947, in Tyler, the son of Earnest Smith and Bonnie Brown Smith and of Jacksonville, Texas, Charles grew up and attended high school in Snyder, Texas. He also attended Tyler Junior College. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1967 and served two tours in Vietnam aboard the USS Turner Joy (DD-951) Navel Destroyer. Charles was married to the "love of his life ", Betty Stone Jayroe, on May 12, 1990. They are members of Green Acres Baptist Church. Charles worked for Southwestern Bell and AT&T for 30 years, retiring in 2005. He then worked in real estate in Lindale and Tyler until 2013. He also worked for the East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse as a recovery coach working with veterans. Charles was a member of the Kairos Prison Ministry and served as a volunteer chaplain at the Michael Unit in Tennessee Colony. He founded Christian Men’s Job Corps in Tyler with Green Acres Baptist Church and helped to start East Texas Marriage Savers marriage mentoring ministry. Charles was an active member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA,), Cross Spoke Riders chapter. He and Betty blessed bikes and their riders, which was his passion, telling them of the love of Jesus. They ministered to bikers through CMA across the U.S. on the road and at rallies for the last few years of his life. He was also a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). Charles regularly attended the Sunrise Prayer Breakfast in Tyler. Charles was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Betty; brothers and wives Richard and Mary Jo and Robert and Claudia all of Jacksonville; daughter Jennifer Smith Cook of Tyler; son and wife Christopher and Michelle Smith of Van, Texas, and grandchildren Damon and Amelia; son Eric Smith of Tyler; stepdaughter and husband Diana and Steve Awbrey of Tyler and grandchildren Rebekah and Mark Price of Chandler, Andrew, Aaron, Rachel and Anna Awbrey; stepdaughter Denise Jayroe and Robin Parker of Dallas and grandson Zayn; stepdaughter and husband Deborah and Bill Gilcrease of Tyler and grandchildren Christopher and Shelby Gilcrease and great grandchildren Owen and Matilda of Forney; and Emma , Steven, Noah, and Vivien Gilcrease. A celebration of Charles’ life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 12, at Green Acres Chapel, 1607 Troup Highway, Tyler. Longtime friend Reverend Jerry Goff of The Well in Waxahachie and Pastor [David Dykes of Green Acres Baptist Church will officiate. The family will receive friends 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM, prior to service. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the "Run For The Son," Christian Motorcyclists Association, c/o Cross Spoke Riders, P.O. Box 953, Whitehouse, TX 75791, instead of flowers.