Lee Tanner Smith, Jr., 67, of Texas City, Texas, retired from this plane of existence on Saturday, July 17, 2021. He was born on August 18, 1953, in Wharton, Texas to Lee Tanner Smith and Jessie Lee Smith. After graduating from a Wharton vocational high school, in January 1974, Lee enlisted, and served multiple tours in the United States Military under the Army's Battery B 1st Battalion 92nd FA 2d Armored Division FORSCOM, as a Communications Center Specialist during Vietnam. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.

While in the military he met and married Monica Kim Smith of Louisville, KY, and two years later they had their first child, Derrick. Amy and Rose Ann came a few years later. Lee was a hard worker and a hustler with many skills. He worked for the City of Houston, Wells Fargo, Red Lobster, Ninfa’s and the Houston VA Medical Center’s Hospital’s Building Management Service. Lee loved working for the VA and enjoyed sharing stories with fellow Veterans. Lee could literally start up a conversation with anyone and on May 8, 1989, 5 years after joining the VA, his skill and bravery allowed him to assist VA police in subduing a violent ER patient without injury to himself or others. When asked, he said he really didn’t think what he did was unusual and that he didn’t even think about it.

From settling biker feuds, stopping drug dealers and street gangs, saving people from floodwaters, fighting fires, towing and changing flat tires on I45; protecting the Galleria from ne'er-do-well; to feeding, educating and providing jobs for the homeless. He was always a hero.

Lee was a master mechanic, and he loved automotive and small engine repair. He fixed many mowers for the city. He was a seasoned chef, BBQ Pit master and loved hunting and fishing. Furthermore, he loved reading science fiction and westerns; as well as watching Japanese anime, tokusatsu and Chinese kung fu movies. Lee was always very proud of his children and grandchildren and wanted to spend as much time with them as possible.

Lee Smith was preceded in death by his ex-wife, Monica Smith; his parents, Lee Tanner Smith, Sr. and Jessie Lee Smith; uncle, Ira Smith; aunts Etta James, Sophronia Terrell; brother, Chester Lee Smith; sisters, Rose Lee Bell-Smith and Amy Williams; granddaughter, Penelope 'Penny' Lane Smith.

Lee is survived by his son Derrick Smith; daughters, Lashaunder Smith, Amy Smith, Rose Ann Smith; grandchildren: Lucy Smith, Jade Williams, Alyssa Atkins, Alisha Atkins, Ashlee Smith, Alexzandra Smith; great-grandchildren, Doriah Pines, Sequoia Lee Songcuan, Shiloh Songcuan; sisters, Jeanelle Smith and Juanita Moore; aunt, Regina Lee; nephews, Milo Smith, Christian Kirby; nieces; Kimberly Smith-Williams, and Crystal Williams; cousins, Lionel Smith and Ronald McAldridge. As well as a host of great friends from the Wharton, Houston, Galveston, and Texas City areas. We will all miss his absence greatly.

Lee will be interred at the Houston National Cemetery on August 6, 2021 at 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr. Houston, Texas 77038 at 9:45am.