Klevon Smith of Izoro died on Jan. 11, 2024.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 19 at School Creek Baptist Church, with the Rev. Jerry Perkins officiating. Interment followed at Hillsdale Cemetery. Scott’s Funeral Home in Gatesville had charge of arrangements.
Klevon was born on Nov. 26, 1933, in Izoro to the late Thomas Dewitt Smith and Addie Hammett Smith. He grew up in Izoro while attending school in Lampasas and graduated from Lampasas High School in 1950 at the age of 16. He said he never missed a single day of school.
He married Frances Krempin on June 4, 1955. Klevon and Frances continued to reside in Izoro for almost all their married lives.
Shortly after his marriage, he was drafted into the United States Army and was stationed in the Marshall Islands during the Korean War. Klevon was discharged into the Army Reserves in 1957, then worked as a civil service employee at Fort Hood. He retired in 1989 after serving a combined 38 years.
Klevon’s skilled hands went to work creating numerous construction projects. Many families are sheltered under the roofs of homes that bear his craftsmanship. Beyond residential projects, Klevon offered his expertise to the development of the church building and fellowship hall for School Creek Baptist Church, of which he was a member most of his life.
Klevon had a penchant for repurposing materials. He took great joy in dismantling old buildings, salvaging the lumber and giving it new life through innovative projects. However, his most renowned skill was mastery of rock masonry. He transformed raw stone into structures that stand as testaments to both strength and beauty.
When not working on a construction project, Klevon enjoyed reading, doing puzzles, playing dominoes and, in his younger years, deer hunting. Regardless of his task, he could always be found with a Dr Pepper in one hand and a chocolate chip cookie in the other.
Klevon was preceded in death by his children Myrna, Deanna and Jerry Smith.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Frances Smith; sons Dean Smith and wife Marcella, and James Smith; daughter, Darlene Kyle and husband Mark; seven grandchildren, Brandon Smith and wife Angela, Cheryl Simmons and husband Mitch, Sean Smith, Jordan Smith, Justin Kyle and wife Gabby, Bethany Warner and husband Joseph, and Kady Carter and husband Jordan; 15 great-grandchildren and four great-greatgrandchildren.
Memorials may be made to School Creek Baptist Church or a charity of one’s choice.
