Jesse Gilbert Smith

12/2/1959-12/12/2021

Jess, or JG as his brothers used to call him, was the middle child of Charles Carl Smith and Betty Kathrine Box Smith. Jesse was born in Fort Worth Texas and spent his early years roaming its streets. He felt a pull of the ocean and journeyed to the coastal areas, landing in Rockport for a number of years. Jess was not suited for a classroom environment and figured after 10 years, he had had enough. As did all of his siblings, Jess started his working life as a carpenter and excelled at it. Jess also took after his Maternal Grandfather and was very mechanically inclined. He was not scared of any engine. Put a piece of heavy equipment in front of him and he soon mastered that as well. Once he made his way South, Jess worked on many fishing boats, earning his Captains license.

One of the things most people didn't know about Jess was his love for music. So much so that he taught himself to play the piano.

Jess is survived by his son, Joseph and wife, Jessica; 5 Grandchildren, Isabell, Savannah, Destry, Bodhi, and Rowen; brothers, Charlie and wife, Andrea, Rick and wife, Jeanne, Vincent and wife, Carol, and Julian and wife, Patricia; and sisters, Kathi Mansfield, Connie Carroll and husband, Sam, Marilyn Erickson, Kim Spencer and husband, James, and Kristi Whitten and husband, Lonnie.

Jesse was preceded in dead by both of his parents.