Joel Dorsey "Jay" Smith, III was born September 30, 1955 at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, TX and passed away November 3, 2018 at home in Wylie, TX. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Karen, son Zach Smith and his fiancé Valerie Ashton, and granddaughter Ava Ashton, of Bonsall, CA.   He is also survived by sisters Beth (Troy) Gibson of Wylie, and Vickie (Ronnie) James of Amarillo, and brothers Joe Don (Beth) Giles of Frisco, and Jeff Smith of Wylie, 8 nieces, 2 nephews, 9 great-nieces, 9 great-nephews, 5 great-great nephews and 1 great-great niece expected later this year. He is survived by best friends, football and fishing buddies, David & Rita Blackman of Plano, Kent & Evelyn Thomason of Wylie, Mark Martinez of Wylie, Craig & Ramy Wilson of Las Cruces, NM, Gina & Doyle Cooper of Glen Rose, TX, Darin & Anne Burks of Smithville, OK, Kirk and Sherry Calverly of Terrell, and Robert and Dianne Lawson of Wylie. He was preceded in death by sisters Mary Frances Giles and Judy Coomer-Owens, parents Frances and Joel D. Smith, Jr., his grandparents, and one great-great nephew.

He was a graduate of Wylie High School and attended Tarleton State University. He retired from Raytheon in 2016, after 36 years of service.
Jay's greatest joy in life was Zach and was always grateful for any time spent with him, especially if it involved fishing or shooting pistols. His other passions in life were fishing, the Wylie Pirates (AHMO), the Texas Longhorns (Hook 'Em!), old country music, and traveling.
He was an organ recipient in 2009 and would ask anyone that's never considered donation, to please do so. His donated liver gave him 9 extra years of life and many opportunities. He was always grateful for, and respectful of his donor.

The family is grateful to the staff, doctors and especially the nurses on 14 Roberts at Baylor, Scott & White in Dallas. We would like to thank the Visiting Nurses Association Hospice Care Group for their loving care the last two days of Jay's life. We also extend our special gratitude to Dr. James Trotter and Dr. J Kent Hamilton for 11 years of diligent and caring medical care, and most especially to Dr. Cedric Spak for his never-ending quest to try to determine Jay's final diagnosis.

There are currently 114,000 individuals waiting for an organ donation. Jay's family asks in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Jay's name to Donate Life Texas (www.donatelifetexas.org).

Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. at the First Baptist Church - Wylie on Wednesday, November 7, 2018.  The funeral service will begin at 11:00 A.M. November 7, 2018 also at the First Baptist Church - Wylie.  Jay will be buried at Kreymer Cemetery.