Allan Floyd Smart

Allan was born on October 25, 1928 in Wewoka, Oklahoma. He spent his early years in and around Cromwell. His independent nature showed even as a toddler. His mother's challenge was to keep him from taking off to explore the town and countryside. Allan had wonderful memories of childhood; wandering with his cousin Emmett, swimming in oilfield tanks, starting fires in old stumps (even ones that served as "storage" during prohibition days). His jobs started early and included learning to drive a pole truck at the age of eight (by trial and error), working hay harvests in Kansas, and serving as a security guard at the armory at 14 years of age.

After multiple attempts to join ANY branch of the service during high school, Allan's parents finally allowed him to join the Army upon graduation. He was sea sick all the way to Italy, but loved his time in Rome working with the post office. Allan fondly remembered visiting with Pope Pius XII, as they would cross paths as they both wandered the grounds of the Vatican. Other wartime adventures included seeing Eva Peron in concert, rerouting commissary food to the Displaced Persons Camp, and starting a riot because of his thriving, but short lived enterprise selling sawdust cigarettes.

Following his discharge, Allan returned home to Oklahoma and used the GI Bill to attend East Central University in Ada. He met his future wife of 62 years, Lorene, when he worked for her as an orderly on the night shift at Valley View Hospital where she was the Charge Nurse. They attended college by day, worked nights, and still participated in campus events in the afternoon and evening. He said they were having too much fun to sleep! It was then that he started a lifelong tradition of keeping a rose for Lorene in a bud vase he had given to her. This tradition continued after they were married on May 17, 1952 in Roff, Oklahoma, and never stopped.

After graduation, Allan taught school and coached for a year in Olney, Oklahoma before going to work in the aerospace industry. After stints in Wichita, Kansas and Joplin, Missouri, he joined General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas. Allan retired after more than thirty years at General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin.

Allan spent his life taking care of others. He was always supportive of his daughters and involved in their many activities such as talent shows, football games, open houses, Christmas plays, parent-teacher meetings, and girl scout events. He was a member of the Masons, and was on the Vestry and building committees of Saint Elizabeth and Holy Apostles Episcopal churches in Fort Worth.

Allan's hobbies included camping with his family, enjoying many trips to Colorado and to Sulfur, Oklahoma. He was never too old to swim and jump off Little Niagara. He also enjoyed fishing (or keeping hooks baited and lines untangled for his girls), playing bridge during lunch breaks at General Dynamics, square dancing, dinners with friends, traveling, growing banana plants, exercising (or visiting) at water aerobics, and wintering with friends at the Tiki Condominiums on South Padre Island.
Allan especially enjoyed scuba diving with dear friends Jeff and Rhonda, and completed his last dive in 2007 with his grandchildren. Always ready for a new adventure, Allan was recently asked to sing in a choir group and was thrilled to join. He did not even know he could sing! Allan was thankful to meet new and special friends at Cottonwood Estates Senior Living Facility in Plano, Texas during his last two years.

Allan excelled at being a grandfather. He loved playing with his grandchildren and sometimes it seemed like he was one of them! He was always willing to carry, rock, babysit, or drive the babies around in the car (or on the riding lawnmower) to get them to sleep. His arms never tired from pushing them in the tree swing, carrying them through the woods, or throughout the mall when needed. Allan's grandchildren could always depend on him to provide something sweet to eat. Much to their parents' dismay, Allan also taught his grandchildren to do donuts while driving his truck on the beach on South Padre Island.

Allan lovingly cared for his wife Lorene when she suffered with Alzheimer's for eight years, even learning to cook. He was a devoted husband and he still delighted in showing her new experiences. He never left her side and was with her until the end.

Allan is survived by daughters' Vicki Evanto and her husband Tom, Jacki Evans and her husband Brian, grandchildren Kristin Evanto and fiancé Bryan Ashley, Michael Evans and wife Katie, and Matthew Evans and fiancé Candice Griffith, sisters Melba Holly and Bernice Lay, and brother-in-law Jim Chancey and wife Wilda. Allan was preceded in death by his wife Lorene, his parents Floyd and Bernice Smart and his sister Donna Crawford.

The family will receive friends at a visitation at Messiah Lutheran Church, 1801 West Plano Parkway, Plano, on Wednesday, April 12 at 11:30 am, with services at 12:15 pm. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 pm at DFW National Cemetery. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in his memory to the Alzheimer's Association.