Todd Douglas Smith of Lubbock was born amidst the festivities of Independence Day in 1964 in Levelland, Texas, Todd embodied the spirit of a firecracker since his earliest days.
Married to Nina Ruth Browning, Todd was blessed with two sons, Tyler and Tanner, who lit up his world with their presence. A devoted father, Todd found immense joy in parenthood and took immense pride in nurturing his sons with boundless love and support. His role as Paw-Paw to Chloe added an extra sparkle to his life.
Todd was a tenacious individual, and never shied away from challenges, including his battle with dyslexia. Determined and resilient, he overcame obstacles and built a successful paving company, “Smith Paving,” spanning over three decades. His dedication to his craft, community, and family was unwavering, evident in the pride he took in introducing his sons to the family business.
From a young age Todd never understood the terms “slow down” or “take it easy”. He suffered several broken bones throughout his life because he didn’t consider the risks of having fun. Known for his adventurous spirit, Todd lived life to the fullest, often finding himself at the center of the party. However, beyond his zest for life lay a heart of gold, always extending kindness and generosity to others. His home was a sanctuary for countless souls, offering shelter, support, and a warm meal to those in need. Todd’s unwavering compassion touched the lives of many, leaving an indelible mark of love and acceptance. The extent of his generosity is immeasurable, as he provided a safe haven for all who needed it. A young lady that had struggles in life summed Todd up best when she said, “Todd loved me where I was.” That was an accurate description of him. You didn’t have to be at your best for him to accept, love and support you. He has blessed many people throughout his life and will be missed for so many reasons.
Todd’s passion for cooking rivaled his zest for life. Known for his culinary skills, he delighted friends and family with his mouthwatering creations. Many people will attest that there was no better cook around than Todd Smith. He was a grill master, making some of the best prime rib, pork ribs, pork butt or brisket ever to be tasted. He was known to spend many nights awake all night tending to his latest feast. He would be exhausted the next day but was happy to have provided an awesome meal for friends and family. No one can compete with his chicken spaghetti as it was over the top as well as many other dishes. He had a certain flair for adding extra ingredients to his meals to make them extra special. He was also the family dressing maker at all holiday meals as he knew how to put “just a little more” sage to make it just right. Everyone looked forward to his homemade dressing every holiday. He was happiest when he was making sure that everyone had good food to enjoy. He loved to cook and always made sure that everyone had plenty to eat when he was around, and nobody ever left hungry and if you couldn’t make it to the festivities, he would gladly deliver food to you wherever you were.
Todd is survived by his mom, Marilyn Smith; sons, Tanner (Kelsey) Smith and Tyler Smith; granddaughter, Chloe Smith; siblings, Donna Bryan, Fain (Donna) Smith, Tabbi (Marc) Wischkaemper, and Brandi Delong, nieces and nephews, Chad (Torie) Bryan, Bridgette Scoggin, Josh Smith, Caleb (Sarah) Wischkaemper, Cassi (Rafael) Justiz, Taylor (Zoe) DeLong, Hannah DeLong, Hunter DeLong and Tatem Delong along with numerous great nieces and nephews.
Todd is preceded in death by ex-wife and lifelong friend, Nina Browning Smith; father, Terry Douglas Smith; and his grandparents.
In Todd’s memory, let us cherish the joy he brought into our lives and strive to emulate his boundless kindness and zest for life. Though he may have left this world, his spirit will forever illuminate our hearts.
He passed away from this life on March 23, 2024.
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