Cowbright: Danny Cosby Smith 1936-2012

It is with much sadness that I tell you that we have lost another family member, a much loved brother-in-law, Dan Smith. There are really not enough good things I could say about Dan. He was the most unselfish person one could ever hope to meet. He lived for his family and especially my sister Margaret who has suffered many years from numerous health issues.

Dan studied mathematics and physics in college, teaching and working as a software engineer for Lockheed Martin until my sister Margaret became seriously ill. He cared for her selflessly over the past 14 years. He was a godly man and as steady as a rock. He had a good sense of humor and he loved to talk to people and share stories. He and Margaret both enjoyed being "mom and dad" to many foreign students through the years.

We were all shocked when Dan was diagnosed with lung cancer in the summer of 2010. He never smoked a day in his life. He fought to live and he never complained or asked "why me?" His faith was an inspiration to us all. He has faithfully prayed for our family through the years and we are the better for it. Dan was an only child, so he always considered my other sister and myself to be his siblings. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him. He will be buried on Tuesday in the same military cemetery that Ronnie's brother Dickey was buried last week - the Dallas Fort Worth Memorial Cemetery.

graduation from Texas A&M, Commerce

Dan was a family man, in every sense of the word. When I looked on our family website to try to find photos, it was very hard to find any of him by himself (thus only one photo before he had kids). He was a husband, dad and granddad - that's who he was. He especially had a wonderful way with the babies, as he could always quiet them and they would sleep contentedly in his lap.

What a sad time for us, as we have experienced the sadness of losing 3 family members in less than 3 months time. First Ronnie's mother, then his brother and now our brother-in-law. It is hard being so far away during such trying times in both our families.