Rex Lee Smith

Rex Lee Smith, 83, of Amarillo, TX passed away Thursday, September 11, 2025.

Visitation will be at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home on Sunday, September 14, 2025 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Memorial service will be Monday, September 15, 2025 at 1:00 pm at South Georgia Baptist Church with the graveside service immediately following at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Rex was born on November 26, 1941 in Amarillo, TX at St. Anthony’s Hospital to Vannie Long. Rex graduated from Amarillo High School in 1960. He also attended Amarillo College. Rex was a master craftsman and used his talents to leave his mark in the Amarillo area and various Texas towns. He was employed in the construction industry and was a proud member of the Carpenters Local Union for 65 years. He worked for Page & Wirtz construction and Western Builders, retiring from Western Builders in 2002. Rex was involved in the construction of over 55 projects including BSA Hospital, West Texas University, and Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.

Rex was a devoted Christ follower and was an ordained Deacon in the Baptist church. He attended South Lawn Baptist, Oasis Southwest Baptist, and South Georgia Baptist Church, all in Amarillo. Rex was a lifelong learner and enjoyed sharing his knowledge with others. He specifically enjoyed the subjects of history (Biblical history was his favorite), mathematics (he owned and could operate a slide rule), and genealogy (he traced the family history back to the 1700s).

Rex was a talented artist. He could turn a block of wood into a beautiful creation. He crafted wooden sculptures, hand carved pictures, and various Christmas items including manger scenes, crosses, and ornaments. His legacy will live on through the gazebo he built for his wife Andrea, a replica 1920s porch swing he built for his wife Jan, the table that he made for his bonus daughter Bethany, a bookcase that he built for his granddaughters, and the cradle that his great granddaughters have laid in. Rex also had a talent for creating beautiful stained glass works of art. He was able to share his love of stained glass with others through a demonstration at the Goodnight Ranch Museum.

Family was very important to Rex. He was reared by a loving community that consisted of his Granny, mother, and uncles. Rex grew up surrounded by his siblings and cousins sharing many adventures and establishing unbreakable bonds of familial loyalty, support, and friendship. He naturally carried his family values into his own home establishing a loving Christian home for his wife and daughters. Rex was a devoted and loyal husband, Daddy, and Peepaw.

Rex was independently minded and was proud of the fact that he would do things his own way. He actively lived his life to the final second and literally exited this world with a tool in his hand.

Rex is preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Andrea Nelson Smith, mother Vannie Long, and brothers Jack Smith and Virgil Cox.

Rex is survived by his loving wife, Janice Pearcy Smith, daughters Debra Smith, Shelley Rodgers and husband David, granddaughters Rebecca Snyder and husband Shane, Bethany Rajkowski and husband Hunter, Makayla Rodgers, great granddaughters Avery Rajkowski and Sydney Snyder, along with bonus children Bethany House and husband Zack, Clint Pearcy and wife Michelle, and grandson Riker House. He is also survived by brother Jimmy Cox and sisters Deanna Dickman and husband Gary, and Gail Jaycox and husband Jake.

The family requests that memorials be made to South Georgia Baptist Church.