25 Jan 2015 Couples: The Smiths
HER Betty Ann Mitchell Smith
Where did you grow up: Morrilton, with times spent at PawPaw Bend and Petit Jean Mountain.
Education: Bachelor of fine arts degree in drawing and painting, University of North Texas.
Job: Retired after 38 years of teaching social studies, math and art, almost entirely at the junior high level.
Parents: William M. Mitchell Jr. of Morrilton and Marie Pledger Mitchell of Sugarland, Texas.
Church: Member of First United Methodist Church, Jonesboro.
Hobbies/special interests: Love listening to music, especially blues and especially at live venues like the King Biscuit festival in Helena. Artwork always!
How would you describe yourself: Creative, helpful, rebellious, sentimental, fortunate and loving life’s humor at every turn.
Favorite restaurant: Mather Lodge.
Most enjoyed weekend activity: Relaxing at our cabin on Petit Jean and enjoying the views.
Favorite quote: “I begin with an idea and then it becomes something else.” — Pablo Picasso (I said this to my art students frequently. There are no mistakes in art; only discoveries of new possibilities.)
What do you love about living in the 501: The beauty and comfort of familiar places, the wonderful people and making great memories.
HIM Jerry Lee Smith
Where did you grow up: In Morrilton near Sacred Heart Catholic Church, then on Church Street. I spent a lot of time on Point Remove Creek near Solgohachia.
Education: Graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Ouachita Baptist University. Studied government for 10 months at Sydney University in Australia as a Rotary Graduate Fellow; graduate studies in higher education administration at Indiana University.
Job: President and CEO, Conway County Economic Development Corporation and the Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce.
Parents: Lewis Earl and Laura Lou Bearden Smith of Morrilton.
Community activities: Was involved in a lot of things in Jonesboro, including training community leaders. Now that I’m with the Chamber in Morrilton, community involvement is what I do. I have joined the Rotary Club.
Church activities: Again, I did a lot of different things in my church in Jonesboro. I expect that will be true here at the Methodist church as well.
Hobbies/special interests: Community leadership; enrolled in Arkansas’ certified archeologist program.
How would you describe yourself: I like harmony and cooperation. To others I probably appear cool, calm and controlled. I don’t resist change as much as I resist being changed, so I’m stubborn if my ideals or beliefs are confronted, but teamwork definitely motivates me. I tend to conceal grievances I might have because I don’t always state my feelings, but I do have an open style of communication.
Favorite restaurant: Mather Lodge on Petit Jean and Cheddars.
Most enjoyed weekend activity: Since I moved to Morrilton, any time I can spend with my wife and daughter and future son-in-law.
Favorite quote: “When the true leader acts, the people say, ‘We did it!’”
THEM
Residents of: We live on Winrock Drive on Petit Jean Mountain, but like all of our neighbors, our address ends the same as when I lived here in the 60s: Morrilton, AR 72110. Betty Ann is in Jonesboro more than Morrilton to oversee the work of getting our home ready for the real estate market.
How we met: In junior high band in the eighth grade.
The proposal: Not really an official one. We decided to get married on the way home from a visit to Jerry’s brother in Texas.
Wedding bells: Nov 4, 1978, at Billie and Marie Mitchell’s home in Morrilton.
Children: Daughter, Susan Laura-Marie Smith.
Pets: Maggie (a Doxie) and Millie (a Jack Russell mix).
Family activities enjoyed together: Beach vacations and casual family get-togethers, talking and laughing.
More information: We really look forward to our house selling so we can add living space at the cabin. A lot of people have told us we have the best view on Petit Jean.
