Shelia Ruth Smith

Shelia Smith passed away Saturday, April 15, 2017, surrounded by her family.Shelia Ruth Hutchins was born to Flois Brown Hutchins Pearson and Delbert Hutchins on March 24, 1953, in Edom, Texas. She grew up in Van, Texas. In high school she lived with and was mentored by her volleyball coach, Marion Young. She was the first all-state athlete for Van High School where she was an all-district and all-state volleyball player.Shelia then played volleyball throughout her collegiate career; first for two years, Howard College in Big Spring, Texas, and then onto Sam Houston State where she graduated in 1976.She taught and coached in Imperial, Pearsall, and Bronte, Texas, and had state play-off teams in both Imperial and Bronte. While Shelia was coaching and living in Bronte, she met James Robert (Bob or Slim) Smith, and their first date was going coon hunting. They were married on September 1, 1984, at the Methodist Church in Edom, Texas. Shelia and Slim shared a love of the outdoors, and enjoyed nearly 33 years of laughter, faith, and family time.After they were married, Shelia and Slim moved to Midkiff, where her children, Kimberly Denise Smith and Michael Wayne Smith were born. In 1991 she began working as a volunteer at Greenwood High School and was instrumental in starting the volleyball program where she became assistant coach and then head coach. Throughout her coaching career at Greenwood she also coached girls basketball and softball, girls and boys cross country, and girls golf. She was assistant coach for both volleyball and softball when Greenwood had appearances in the state tournament as well as, having state athletes in both golf and cross country. Shelia drove a bus for Greenwood and taught EMT classes and bus driving classes for other teachers and coaches throughout Region 18. She was a proud member of the Texas Coaches Association.Shelia’s happiest moments were spent with her husband and kids and those that she coached. From MUGS softball and elementary volleyball, to peewee football and junior high basketball, Shelia and Slim spent hours upon hours enjoying their kids’ athletic ventures. Shelia coached Kimberly in volleyball and spent years cheering her on in basketball and softball both in high school and college. She and Slim traveled to every football and baseball game that Michael played in, as well as attending his many golf tournaments. After her kids graduated she continued to coach and became a mentor to many athletes and other coaches. She loved following the athletic careers of those that she coached personally, as well as the children of her many friends. Shelia will be missed by many; she was a strict coach, but always loving and kind. She had a way of getting kids to reach their highest potential by creating an atmosphere of respect, hard work, and most of all, love. She was very competitive and would never quit: in sports, on the kids that she loved so much, or in life.Shelia loved family, and especially loved holiday gatherings, both in Midland with Slim’s family and in East Texas where her family lives. She was extremely proud of her kids’ accomplishments after graduation from Greenwood High School: Kimberly’s college softball games and graduation from UTPB, and Michael’s graduation from Sul Ross State University with both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees were some of her proudest moments.Shelia was a wonderful wife, mother, friend, aunt, sister, sister-in-law, cousin, and coach, and will be greatly missed by everyone that knew her.Shelia is predeceased by her parents; two brothers, Loy Dean Hutchins and Cleatus Hutchins; niece, Shawn Dee Hutchins Eicher; and great nephew, Hudson Ray Hutchins.Shelia is survived by her husband, Slim; daughter, Kimberly Haines and husband, Tyler; son, Michael Smith; sister, Dalpha Garrett; and brother, Henry Hutchins; and many nieces and nephews.Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 18, 2017, from 5:00 pm -7:00 pm at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home in Midland. Funeral Services will be Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at 10:00 am at Greenwood Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Bob Purser, Johnny Willis, Mike Zachary, Ken Ferguson, Ariel Elliott, and Kyle Kitto.Memorials in Shelia’s name may be made to Hope Lodge of Lubbock, Texas; The Melanoma Center of MD Anderson in Houston, Texas; or West End Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.,