Alan Smith

Alan L. Smith, 82, of Fredericksburg, TX, died peacefully at home on October, 4, 2023, after a brief but fierce battle with cancer.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Irene.  He was also predeceased by his sister Anita.  He is survived by his two daughters Gwen & Annette; sons-in-law Paul and Richard; grandchildren Seth and his wife Natalie, Logan, and Jessica and her husband Jason; great granddaughters Aravis & Aurora; and sister Roberta.

            Born on a farm near Bartley, Nebraska to Bert & Bernice Smith, Alan never outgrew his love of the land & of all growing things.  He grew up doing farm work, raising livestock, fixing cars, working at the filling station, and other jobs.  An athlete in school, Alan lettered in basketball, football, and track, even medaling at the State Track Meet.  Alan was a proud graduate of the Bartley High School Class of ‘59. 

            The first in his family to attend college, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Botany from the University of Nebraska-Kearney.  He was honored as a Distinguished Alumni of that Institution in 2020.  He earned his PhD in Plant Ecology from Texas A&M University.  Alan focused his graduate studies on wetlands grasses and became an Environmental Consultant, working most of his career in Houston for Dames & Moore and serving long-term clients like Shell Pipeline.  He later formed his own company, Global Environments, where one of his proudest accomplishments was to conceive, plan & successfully complete the first-of-its-kind seagrass restoration project on South Padre Island.  Alan was proud of his involvement in the Texas Association of Environmental Professionals in Houston.  He served as its President in 1990, increasing membership through continuing education and certification seminars.

            Alan & Irene retired to Central Texas in 2007, happy to return to country living.  Alan was a great reader, especially of Westerns, an excellent photographer, and a drawing/sketching artist.  He especially valued family and spent a lifetime documenting his family genealogical history.  Alan had a lifelong love of gardening, landscape design, music, good food, & good friends.  Alan cherished and maintained lifelong friendships with childhood buddies, university friends and mentors, neighbors and colleagues.  He also loved his many close neighbors in Fredericksburg & the good friends he made in the Fredericksburg TeaParty & the Native Plant Society.  He loved spending time with his three grandchildren & two great-grandchildren.

            A Memorial service for Alan will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at The Bridge Church in Fredericksburg at 10:00 am.  A light luncheon following.

            For those wishing to send a memorial, please consider a donation to the Alan & Irene Smith Biology & Plant Science Endowed Scholarship Fund at University of Nebraska-Kearney.  Online at https://nufoundation.org/fund/01150770/ or University of Nebraska Foundation, P.O. Box 2678, Kearney, NE 68848, fund #01150770.

Link to service livestream:

https://boxcast.tv/view/alan-smith-memorial-service-fkc9xw9asihunjjlhq3s