Mary Evelyn (Clark) Smith

Mary Evelyn (Clark) Smith Mary Evelyn Smith of Del Rio passed away on August 14, 2025 in Knoxville surrounded by her loving children. She was 91. Evelyn, as she was known to all, was born in 1933 in Emory Gap, Tennessee, the first child of Homer and Wilma Clark. Her father was a widower with four children (two sons, two daughters) when he married her mother. During her early childhood, the family lived in North Carolina and Virginia where the family continued to grow and grow. She loved being the “little sister” to her older siblings but all too soon had the “not so much fun” role of “big sister” to four “sometimes unruly” younger brothers and a sister. The family moved to Del Rio at the end of World War II. Evelyn graduated from Cocke County High School in 1950, Salutorian of her class, at the age of 16. In less than a year, she eloped with the love of her life, Ernest Lloyd Smith of Del Rio. Lloyd had just completed basic training for the U. S. Air Force and was soon deployed to Warrington, England. In the spring of 1952 when she was 18, Evelyn traveled alone, by ship, to join him in England. Their daughter, Debbie, was born during their three-year stay there. After Lloyd’s discharge, they moved to Nashville where he attended trade school and became a welder. They soon welcomed the birth of their son, David. Because of Lloyd’s job, they moved to Virginia; they also began building a house in Del Rio. In early 1962, they were in the process of moving home to Tennessee in anticipation of the birth of their third child. Their son, Darryl, decided to enter the world earlier than expected while still in Virginia. They took this delay in stride and with their family now complete, they moved into the home they built with their own hands in Del Rio where they would spend the rest of their lives. Evelyn’s main focus in life was being the best wife and mother she could be. Despite giving 100% of herself to that endeavor, she still managed to do so much more. She maintained the records for her husband’s business, was a teacher’s aide in the Head Start program in Newport for 22 years and then learned to be a travel agent. For nine years she was a travel agent, a job that gave her the opportunity to travel to the Hawaiian Islands, several Caribbean Islands, Ireland, Prague and she fulfilled her lifelong dream of seeing Paris where she traveled alone to celebrate her 62nd birthday. She then retired and took care of her mother-in-law until her death. Just after her 65th birthday, she returned to school at Walter State College to complete her education. This renewed her passion for writing. She leaves a legacy of her beautifully written heartfelt poetry and stories. Then Lloyd became seriously ill. She gave him the tenderest of care for several years until he passed in 2014. Evelyn was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and human being. She personified the very best of qualities - unconditional love, strength of spirit and unending generosity, evident in the way she cared for her family and friends. She loved the color blue, East Tennessee autumns, and Diane Bible’s home baked cinnamon rolls. She was never seen in public with a hair out of place, a wrinkle in her clothing or a frown on her face. She baked the best cornbread in Del Rio. You never left her table hungry, always had more than one choice of desserts and she did the dishes (claiming it was her therapy). Her faith in God was steadfast and she prayed for those whose political beliefs differed from hers because “their poor little brains were wired wrong.” For such a tiny woman, Evelyn Smith leaves a mighty big hole in our hearts. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Lloyd, and beloved grandson, Gabriel Shell; brothers, Jimmy, Jack, Stan, Bill and Gerald Clark; sisters, Thelma Lentz and Opal Barrett and daughter-in-law, Karen Smith. She is survived by daughter Debbie (Don) Shell of Knoxville, sons, David Smith of Johnson City and Darryl (Kim Cook) Smith of Knoxville, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, sister Ginger (Wayne) Firth of Virginia and brother Ron (Kathy) Clark of Pennsylvania. A service will be held at graveside, 11:00am, October 18, 2025 at the Clark Cemetery in Del Rio. In case of inclement weather, the service will be moved inside Deep Gap Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of two things close to Evelyn’s heart: Del Rio First Church of God for the Wednesday Suppertime Ministry ℅ Diane Bible1065 Flat Top Way Del Rio, TN 37727 Or Central Baptist Bearden for Alzheimer’s Tennessee’s Hearts Sing! Chorus at Central Baptist Bearden 6300 Deane Hill Drive Knoxville TN 37919. Family and friends may sign the guest register online at: www.manesfuneralhome.com. Arrangements with Manes Funeral Home.

Mary Evelyn (Clark) Smith

August 17, 1933 - August 14, 2025