Joan G. Smith

Joan was born Joan G. Smithson on July 28, 1939, to Robert and Hazel Smithson in Pontiac, Michigan. Joan passed away on November 8th, 2023, in College Station, Texas. Joan led a full and active life, living every day to the fullest. She married John Knight Sr. while stationed in Florida, and they had 5 children: John Knight Jr., Deborah Dunn, Karen Alsept, Suzanne Hejl, and Wendy Knight-Winkler. She had a second chance at love and married William Smith. They enjoyed living deep in the Kisatchie National Forest in Leesville, Louisiana. Hosting campfire parties, easter egg hunts and crawfish boils every year.

She devoted her working time to helping those in need as a registered nurse. She found passion for providing care for others and did so for over 35 years. She did most of her nursing in Shreveport, La, and in later years in Leesville, Louisiana as a school nurse. After her husband passed away, she moved to Jamaica Beach, Texas where she spent the rest of her life enjoying the beach on her pink golf cart and coming back and forth to see family in College Station. She was an expert at crocheting, knitting, and loved tap dancing, baking, and most of all socializing.

Preceding Joan to heaven were her parents Robert and Hazel Smithson, husband William R. Smith, daughter Deborah Dunn, grandson Ryan Alsept, sisters Betty Ockerman and Helen DeGroff, brothers William, Robert, and Charles Smithson.

She is survived by her brother, James Smithson; Children: her son John J. Knight Jr. and daughters, Karen Alsept, Wendy Knight-Winkler, and Suzanne Hejl; Grandchildren: Travis Alsept, Sarah Anderson, Emily Yates, Alex Hejl, Benjamin Hejl, Mariah Hulsey, Rachel Spangler, Bobby Jelks, Whitney Dunn, Donald Leinhart, Cortney Lunsford, John C. Knight, Alexis Knight; Great Grandchildren; Myles Leinhart, Ethan Queen, Gabriel Celian, Amber Park, Trinity Lunsford, Kaylee Anderson, Piper Anderson, Emory Jelks, Mariah Jackson, Breauna Jackson, Ophelia Hulsey, James Q. Drumwright V, Chandler Spangler; Great-Great Grandchildren, Saylor Park.

There will be a Celebration of Life ceremony announced soon to honor her legacy and spread her ashes upon the ocean in Galveston.