OBITUARY John Francis Smrcina Born August 12, 1949 John F. Smrcina, a horseman, amateur gardener, practical jokester, and beach lover, died on July 10, 2018. He was born in Washington, D.C. to Lt. Col.
F.J. Smrcina (deceased) and Ruby H. Smrcina(deceased). He was the eldest of four children. He spent part of his childhood in Germany and his family settled in Valdosta, GA.
when John was in late primary school. He was a standout athlete in basketball, baseball, and football. Because of his football prowess and quarterback skills, he was offered and accepted a scholarship to Henderson County Junior College (now known as TVCC) in Athens, TX.
The small-town Georgia boy was swept off his feet by a sweet East Texas girl (Sue) more than 48 years ago. They married and had a son and daughter, John of Mansfield, TX and Jeri Ann of Arlington, TX. John worked in various occupations in the beginning of their life together, but eventually became a State Farm agent because he liked to help others.
For over 39 years, John enjoyed serving his policyholders that he referred to as friends and family. John was active in and supported Grand Prairie Youth Football, Grand Prairie Boys Baseball, SGPHS Baseball, and the Grand Prairie Planning & Zoning Commission. He loved Coca-Cola, cornbread and greens, and more recently, squash cooked in a variety of ways.
He had a life-long love affair with boiled eggs, only drove Chevy pick-up trucks, and took many afternoon walks in the heat of Texas summers. He was an eccentric dresser and could be seen around town in his State Farm tennis shoes, black socks, denim shorts, and a pullover with no banding around the arms. Though not a man of incredible fashion sense, he always made sure to have his tie from the 1960’s ready for if an occasion arose.
John never forgot a name or face and would give you the shirt off of his back if he thought you needed it… and you never had to ask. The love of his life, his Sug, was never far from his side, and she dutifully carried his favorite Thousand Island salad dressing in her purse for each of their hundreds of visits to Ojeda’s Mexican Restaurant in Desoto. He never ordered a glass of tea without a bowl of lemons to go accompany it.
John was a man of routine taking the same sack lunch Sue packed for him each day to take to the office for decades. Every Sunday you could count on the family gathering at his house to share a meal that more than likely would be served at 6pm sharp. If his children or grandchildren were involved in an activity, he was there to offer his unwavering support and oftentimes was the coach as well.
He became a father/grandfather figure to more than one over the years because of his ability to sit and listen without judgment. John had a creative side, too, in that he enjoyed making up stories for his grandchildren at naptimes/ bedtimes about various children around the world and their adventures. He loved to torture his family with his love of classical music listened to at levels not safe for human ears.
And though he couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, he loved to play a game where he would whistle a tune and have others guess the song. There was only ever one winner to this game! John loved his family and truly showed them each and every day.
He was a superhero to his grandchildren and his influence will live on in them. John is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sue; son John (Amanda); daughter Jeri Bordelon (Tim); grandchildren: Ryan, Maddie, Mackenzie, Jack, Devin, Cameron, and Karson; numerous nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; brothers and sisters-in-law; and siblings: Tom Smrcina, Margaret Bolitho, and Anne Kerbe.
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