Graveside services for Brenda Marie Smith, 75, of China, Texas, will be held Monday, August 17, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the Mt. Rose Cemetery in Livingston, Texas with Bro. Curtis Jordan officiating.

Ms. Brenda died Thursday, August 13, 2020. She was born on August 31, 1944, in Eunice, Louisiana, to parents, Lillie Marcantel and Wilbert Marcantel. Brenda was a caring and very strong willed person. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior who comforted her throughout the many months of her cancer treatments at MD Anderson, in Houston, Texas.

On February 14, 1993, she married Howard "Jake" Smith, whom she loved with all her heart and soul. The children brought in to this marriage were from previous marriages. Brenda was the mother of John Wayne Cope and Susan Dene' Jaros. Howard "Jake" is the father of Thomas H. Smith, John Michael Smith and Emily Bratton, from this union, they were blessed with nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Brenda is survived by her loving husband of twenty-seven years, Howard "Jake" Smith, son, John W. Cope; daughter, Susan Jaros and husband, Dave; granddaughter, Dusti Hussey; brother, Noland Marcantel and wife, Marsha; step-children, Thomas H. Smith, John "Mike" Smith and Emily Bratton and husband, Todd; father-in-law, Carlie Smith and wife, Etheldred "Sissy" Smith; and sister-in-law, Deborah Wright and husband, John. Brenda is preceded in death by her parents.

Brenda was employed as an X-Ray technician for twenty-seven years in Beaumont. After retiring from this profession, she began a new career with the Texas Department of Public Safety in Beaumont. Brenda remained in this position for over twenty years until she retired because of health reasons from her cancer.

Her co-workers at the DPS became a second family. A close bond developed between Brenda and her co-workers. Especially Captain McDaniels, Lt. Chuck Havard, Sgt. Hussey, Sgt. Stephanie Davis and Valerie Carter. Valerie referred to Brenda as her second mother. Brenda's close personal friends were Darlice Alamond, Clara Bridges, Estela Ochoa and Becky Wiser, and so many others, too many to list.

Brenda loved to sew, she altered and placed many patched on the uniforms of DPS Troopers. She liked to shop and enjoyed traveling to Canton Trade Days. The family wishes to thank Brenda's Care Team at MD Anderson Cancer Center, for the care and support provided to her.

Honorary pallbearers will be her many friends from the DPS and her life-long friends from Elton, Louisiana and China, Texas.

Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online guestbook at www.cochranfh.com .