Obituary of Willie Daniel Smart

Willie Daniel "WD" Smart peacefully entered into eternal rest with our Lord and Savior on October 24, 2013. A wonderful brother, uncle, and great uncle, he was born on February 29, 1936, the fourth of five children to Daniel and Melissa Smart. He accepted Jesus Christ, as his Lord and Savior, at an early age and is preceded in death by his parents, Daniel, Melissa Smart and all of his siblings - sisters, Sadie Smart Bryant, Wildred Smart Eaton, Augustine Smart Hardy and brother Talmadge H. Smart. This is a tribute to the love, care and many blessings he received throughout his lifetime from his family, friends and God. WD, as he is fondly known, was a delight to all who encountered him. He loved long strolls around the Barrett Station neighborhood in Crosby, TX where he spent most of his childhood and adult life. WD spent hours flipping through magazines and running errands to the local store for his mother with a simple note in his back pocket. He baffled physicians at his ability to communicate with family and friends given his disabilities. WD was born with cerebral palsy, but that did not limit him from enjoying a good and loving life. At about nine years old, while playing with his sister Augustine "Teen", WD stood up on his own and began walking after scooting on his bottom for years. Teen yelled, "Mother, come quick! WD is walking." Everyone was so surprised. He lived a very full life, and enjoyed family and friends with hours of laughter and play. He was known to all of the Barrett Station residents, and loved to race and wrestle with his nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. He attended church with his parents who served as Deacon and Deaconess at True Vine Missionary Baptist Church of Crosby, He later lived with his sister Sadie in Crosby and then WD moved to Houston with his sister Wildred. He also enjoyed family vacations to Colorado and trips to the beach and zoo. His final move was to Denver, Colorado with his sister, Augustine Hardy and family. While in Denver, he attended True Light Baptist Church. In addition he enjoyed going to his great nieces' and great nephew's soccer games, recitals and talent shows. It was there he encountered his first experience with snow. The look on his face alone, displayed the sheer amazement, while the laughter in his voice let you know he was happy, and yet he didn't really care for the cold weather. Little did he know Colorado and snow would become the place he would spend the Last 6 years of his precious life and his final resting place. WD has enjoyed many things in life, and even though you would never know it from his thin build, he loved EATING! He had a very healthy appetite! Whether it was fast food, home cooked meals, lavish Sunday dinner, or the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, he loved food. His all-time favorite thing to eat was Blue Bell Lemon Ice Cream. On Fridays, he usually got his haircut and shave. This was known affectionately by everyone as the "baldy look". WD leaves to cherish his rich life and memory his nieces, Cheryl (Michael) Cole and Dannette Singleton of Houston, TX, Angela Hardy Wilhite and Tern Hardy of Denver, CO, Juanita Kay Rogers of Aurora, CO. Linda K. (Smart) Ellis of St. Louis, MO and nephews, Kezneth Bryant of Houston, Michael (Pam) Hardy of Denver, CO, Dewitt Eaton (Kris) of Bellaire, TX and Neiman T. Eaton (Monica) of Friendswood, TX, Stacy Medina and Christopher Smart of Fresno, CA and a hosts of great nieces, nephew, cousins and friends. A special thanks to Bryant who assisted Angela in caring for WD. Rest in peace..."WD"