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Smith, Daniel "Dan" J.

March 27, 1943 –
 August 11, 2015

Obituary

Daniel (Dan) Smith passed away on Tuesday, August 11, 2015, at Medical City Hospital in Dallas, TX after waging a valiant 3 year battle against Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.  He was a resident of Dallas, TX for the past 39 years.  Dan is survived by his wife of 45 years Beverly (Cummings) Smith, son David Smith and daughter Brittany Smith.  He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law Patricia and Austin McElroy,  Covington LA; sister and brother-in-law Linda and James McLain, Folsom, LA; sister-in-law Cynthia Graham, Metairie, LA; sister-in-law Mary Stafford and husband Mark, New York, NY; and sister-in-law Lisa Richardson and husband Louis, Metairie,LA.  He will also be missed by many loving nieces and nephews .  He was preceded in death by his parents, Daryl (Dan) George Smith and Ann Helen (Lakatos) Smith. Dan was born in Madison, WI where his father was stationed during WWII, but moved to Granite City, IL during his father’s overseas tour of service.  He lived with his mother and maternal grandparents until his father returned home when Dan was three years old.  His father’s chosen career dictated several moves during Dan’s early life, and he always felt those transitions provided opportunities for growth.  He was raised mostly in the south…Memphis, TN, Jackson, MS and New Orleans, LA.  He attended DeLaSalle High School in New Orleans, LA and LSU in Baton Rouge, LA. He was a talented draftsman, and worked for several architectural firms in New Orleans, as well as a sales agency specializing in outdoor lighting.  He designed what was then considered the new concept in lighting for automobile dealerships.  His expertise in this field led to a position as a liaison between a major manufacturer of lighting fixtures and the auto industry executives in Detroit, MI.  He remained in the lighting industry for several more years, moving from Detroit to Dallas, Cincinnati and Los Angeles. In 1972, he had an opportunity to explore new horizons.  He and Beverly moved from Los Angeles to Chicago,IL to begin his career in the furniture industry.  For many years he was a sales representative for various furniture manufacturers, covering territories in Illinois, Iowa and finally back to Texas in 1976.  He owned and operated a “to-the-trade” showroom in the Dallas Market Center for over 25 years.  Dan left the furniture industry in 1996, and embarked on a new career in residential real estate.  He built a large and loyal following of clients, who became close friends that have remained an important part of his life.  His code of ethics and honesty, as well as a wonderful sense of humor, endeared him to everyone. The family would like to thank Dr. Vikas Bhushan, and his clinical staff, as well as the nurses and aides on the 11th and 12th floor of Medical City Hospital, for taking such excellent care of Dan these past three years. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial Mass at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 5100 West Plano Pkwy, Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 11:00 am.  A luncheon reception to celebrate his life will follow the service.  Interment will be in New Orleans, LA . In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Leukemia Society (www.lls.org), Prince of Peace Catholic Church (popplano.org), or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of ARIA Cremation Service and Funeral Home 19310 Preston Road Dallas, Texas 75252 214-306-6700    

    Gayla Culp
    18 Aug 2015
    12:25pm

    Sending our condolences to the Smith Family! Our prayers are with you.

    Anna and Richard Cholewa
    18 Aug 2015
    1:46pm

    No one can prepare us for the loss of a loved one. Our prayer is that you feel comfort in having Dan as your special angel to care for you in a way not possible here on earth. Our love and prayers are with you at this very difficult time.

    Matthew and Angela Gagnon
    19 Aug 2015
    12:29pm

    Dear Beverly and Family,

    We are so deeply saddened for your loss. We are praying very hard that you find some comfort during this difficult time. We pray for strength and peace and our thoughts are with you.
    The Gagnon Family (Matt, Angela, Willa and Josie)

    Sunita Mani and Srinadh Madhavapeddi
    19 Aug 2015
    9:15pm

    Dear Bev and family,

    Our thoughts are with you and we grieve with you and also celebrate Dan’s life with you. For so many first time home buyers like us, Dan provided comfort and was a source of strength, wisdom and reassurance and in the process made us own our little part of this unique American experience! His warmth and kind spirit will forever be missed! Home buying or talking about real estate will never be the same for us! Rest well, kind friend!

    Sunita, Srinadh, Anika, Aanya, Mani and Santha

    Guy and Julie Signorino
    23 Aug 2015
    3:03pm

    Dear Beverly and Family,
    May it comfort you to know that Dan is at peace with the Lord and he is praying for you. Thank you Jesus for the witness of a life well lived! May God bless y’all and keep you in His grace.

    Larry and Linda Schmitt
    24 Aug 2015
    1:44pm

    Dear Bev., Brittany and David
    We love you all and will dearly miss Dan and our dinners together.
    Our prayers are with you and know he is at rest. Love you Larry, Linda, Julie, Todd, Lisa, Will & Evan

    Brittany
    25 Aug 2015
    3:27pm

    I love you daddy!!!

    Mark Milliman
    25 Aug 2015
    3:55pm

    Dear Aunt Bev, David and Brittany,
    Uncle Dan was a great man and a terrific God father to me. He will be missed dearly. I know he is up in heaven with my parents and other loved ones laughing and telling hilarious stories. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this very difficult time. Love you all.

    Gary Jansson
    30 Aug 2015
    8:57pm

    Always enjoyed crossing paths with Dan, he had many interest, and good person

    Denis Dees
    31 Aug 2015
    7:18am

    Bev, I am thinking of you, and sending love and good memories of Dan. I remember his wonderful sense of humor and love and thoughtfulness of family. God Bless,
    Denis and Susyn Dees

    RON HARBACH
    31 Aug 2015
    9:17am

    BEV SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT DAN. MAKES ME THINK ABOUT DON. HAS BEEN A LONG TIME BUT IF YOU CAN SEND ME A CONTACT FOR YOU WOULD LOVE TO TALK WITH YOU. MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU .
    RON HARBACH 214 957 O979

    Pat smith mcelroy
    3 Sep 2015
    10:26am

    Our love & prayers go out to Bev and everyone, on the passing on of my dear and loving brother,Dan. He will be missed by all….but finally ….pain free.

    Samit and Christine
    4 Sep 2015
    7:17pm

    Dear Bev and Family,

    We are deeply saddened by Dan’s passing away.
    Over the years our relationship with you and Dan transformed from realtor, to adviser to close friends. Dan was a very kind, wise and well informed person who had highest of integrity. We learnt a lot from both Dan and you. Both Christine and I have always admired the energy both of you had in work and life. Dan’s humor and presence around us will definitely be missed, but he will always be in our hearts and minds.
    Our well wishes and prayers are with you and the family.

    Samit & Christine

    Sejal and Hemang Desai
    5 Sep 2015
    7:50am

    Dear Bev,

    As you know, you and Dan hold a very special place in our heart. He will be missed dearly by the Desai household. Dan’s kind, thoughtful and very patient demeanor certainly helped us through the years of working together. He taught a thing or two about Real Estate to Hemang and Mohan as you know!! We will always cherish memories of times spent together and look forward to continuing our friendship for years to come. You know you can call on us any time. So please do.

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"I can’t say enough about how helpful and professional Dusty Martin, the funeral director at the Aria Cremation location on NW Highway has been. From my initial call, he was kind and informative. My friend died at home while on hospice and she was picked up in about an hour after receiving the call from the hospice nurse. The person who arrived to pick her up was also very professional/respectful and allowed us to take as much time with her as we wished. When I met with Dusty the next day about arrangements, he explained the process and options available without being pushy or trying to “sell” extras. Throughout the process, he kept me informed and, for example, was careful to be certain I understood the cost of the obituary I wanted and offered some options for reducing that cost if I wished. When I stopped by for another reason and started talking about some of the problems I was having with the pictures and media I hoped to use at a memorial lunch I was planning, he not only listened patiently but offered technology advice and let me use his personal media player. I have had experience arranging cremations for four others using two other local companies, and this experience with Dusty at Aria has been by far the best one I have had."
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"My Daddy’s service and our family experience at Aria Northwest Highway was truly blessed. Funeral Director Dustin Martin is the kind of person that you would like to see on a more regular basis – but in his industry – you hope to not see him that often. That being said – THANK YOU DUSTIN for your unending kindness, compassion and friendship through the process. Meeting you and discussing Dallas History, Find A Grave and my Dad’s lifelong contributions to the great City of Dallas was simply wonderful! In memory of my dad James A. Dodd, Sr. – I want to personally thank you and let you know that you made everything better in that moment. Your calling to “Be There” is spot on. Aria has a one in a million guy in you! Bling Blinky of TEXAS Shout Out: God Bless You!!"
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