Tommye Smith

A funeral service for Tommye N. Smith, 75, of Gillette, WY will be at 2:00 p.m .on Monday, February 25, 2008 at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Mark Jervis officiating. Burial will follow in the Gillettte; Mount Pisgah Cemetery.Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, February 24, 2008 at the Walker Funeral Home. She passed away unexpectedly February 21, 2008 in Billings, Mt, Tommye was born December 6, 1932 the daughter of Thomas Eugene Chumley and Laura Alberta (Newton) Chumley in Port Arthur, Texas. She was raised and educated in Silsbee, Texas graduating from high school in 1950 and Port Arthur Business College 1951. On January 25, 1948 she met the love of her life, Elton E. Smith. They were married on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1951. During their life in Silsbee she worked for Kirby Lumber Company, Oil Reserve Company, and Silsbee Independent School District.Tommye and Elton welcomed a daughter, Deborah Ann, on July 23, 1957. They made their home in Silsbee until July 1969 when Elton accepted a job in Gillette, WY. After moving Tommye worked at Northside Elementary School as a teacher's aid and secretary. In 1972 she joined Burlington Northern Railroad as a Compass Clerk, retiring in 1995. During her 23 years of service at the railroad she made many friends.Nurturing was her life, whether it was her husband, family, or friends. She loved to go to lunch every day with her husband and many times with her great grandsons ( Patrick and Ryan). You would always see her in the stands at her grandson, Layton's sporting events. She was very active in Beta Signa Phi for 55 years.Tommye is survived by her husband Elton of Gillette, daughter Debbie McWilliams and her husband Rocky of Gillette. Beloved grandchildren Landon McWilliams of Phoenix, AZ, Lane McWilliams and his wife Aimee, Leslie Bailey and her husband Stevan, Layton McWilliams, and two great grandsons Patrick and Ryan McWilliams, which were the apple of her eye.Tommye was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Frances Byrd and Louise Southerland.A memorial has been established in Tommye's name to benefit the Diabetes Foundation. Donations can be sent in care of the Walker Funeral Home, 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may be sent via the website:wwwwalkerfuneralgillette.com.