Funeral services for Eva Marie Witherspoon Smith, 88, of Deer Park, Texas, will be held Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel in Livingston, Texas with Bro. Danny Mendoza officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Bethel Cemetery in Gary, Texas at 3:00 PM. Pallbearers are Jason Lee Welch, David Pass, Marcus Witherspoon, Ronnie Witherspoon, Scott Anstee, James Langford. Honorary Pallbearers are Bradley James Welch and James Witherspoon.

She was born August 5, 1922 in Panola County, Texas to Marcus L. Witherspoon and Alabama Byrd Witherspoon and passed from this life on June 10, 2011 after a long battle Alzheimer' disease and lung cancer in Deer Park, Texas. She is preceded in death by her parents, Marcus L. Witherspoon and Alabama Byrd Witherspoon, sister, Rosa Bell Pass, brother, Woolsey Witherspoon, sister, Emma Joyce ""Peggy"" Powell, brother, Burke Witherspoon, sister, Bertie White, and brother, Alton Witherspoon.

Marie is survived by Marcus Earl Welch and Elaine Welch, son and daughter-in-law of Pasadena, Texas, Jason Lee Welch and Kristi Welch, grandson and wife of Pasadena, Texas, Bradley James Welch, great grandson of Pasadena, Texas, Kelly Renee Welch, granddaughter of San Antonio, Texas, Sandra Smith Tedford, step daughter of Pearl, Mississippi, step granddaughters, Kathy and Daneille of Pearl, Mississippi, numerous nieces and nephews of Livingston and Carthage, Texas.

She was a long time resident of Livingston, Texas. She was married to Jessie Smith (deceased) and they owned several small businesses over the years. They established a wholesale bait business in the early 1970' when Lake Livingston opened and provided minnows to numerous marinas and bait shops around the lake.

Marie will be forever in our memory as a loving and caring mother, grandmother, and friend. She loved to cook for her family, well known for her chocolate fudge, pecan pies, and homemade biscuits. She loved animals and her family often teasingly called her ""Ellie Mae.""

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