John Ross Smotherman

John Ross Smotherman, 82, a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico since 2003, moved to his heavenly home on Tuesday, September 1, 2015. He is survived by his children, Bruce and Paula Smotherman of Dayton, OH, Bryan Smotherman of Albuquerque, Cara and Dan Flynn of Albuquerque and Brenda and Rob DeShurley of Spring, TX; grandchildren, James and Fahm Smotherman of Sumter, SC, Marie and Will Stout of Albuquerque, AnnaBeth and Martin Williams of Tulsa, OK, Sarah DeShurley of Norman, OK, George DeShurley of Norman, OK, and Rachel Flynn of Albuquerque; great-grandchildren, Maizie, Elise, Max, Myles, and John; sister-in-law, Norma Smotherman of Erick, OK; brother-in-law John French and wife Linda, of Austin TX; sister-in-law Susan Carrington and husband Jace of Dallas, TX, as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. John was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years, Louise; parents Buford Smotherman and Gladys White Smotherman of Erick, OK; brothers Mack Smotherman and Kent Smotherman, also of Erick, OK and sisters Faye Worde of San Antonio and Doris Hise of Rockport, TX. John and Louise grew up as childhood sweethearts in Erick, OK. He and Louise established a new family dynamic by insisting that there were no such thing as “in-laws” among their children – a tradition their children have carried forward. They also ‘adopted’ many of their children’s friends as their own. John became a Christian at an early age and loved Jesus all his life. He graduated Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1957 and began a career as a pharmacist, owning many drugstores in Texas and New Mexico with his college friends and partners Charles Hall, Ray Estill and Harold Raff. John loved music and considered a career in music before committing to pharmacy. He had a beautiful voice and shared his faith by singing in many choirs and churches. John played drums in a big jazz band when he was newly married and still in college. He was an avid fly fisherman and loved to tell fish tales. He tied his own flies and even taught a class at ENMU-R. His children are still surprised and delighted by the number of people who say to them “your father is just the nicest guy.” He was blessed to have special friends wherever he lived. The family would like to acknowledge some special friends at “The Retreat at Oxbow North” and the wonderful, loving care they gave John. An Interment Service will be held Saturday September 26, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Centennial Garden at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd., with a Celebration of Life to follow at 12:30 p.m. at the Flynn home. Should friends desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either World Vision International, worldvision.org, or to Parkinson’s Research at the Michael J Fox Foundation, michaeljfox.org. Please visit our online guestbook for John at www.FrenchFunerals.com. FRENCH - Westside 9300 Golf Course Rd NW 505-897-0300

John Ross Smotherman

August 31, 1933 - September 1, 2015