William Smith

SMITH, William Edward Bill Tuffy passed away at Casa Maria Health Care Center on December 15, 2012 at age 63 after a third struggle with cancer. He was born to Edward I. Smith and Mary Ellen Childers Smith on June 4, 1949 at St. Marys Hospital in Roswell.
Bill attended Hagerman Municipal Schools, graduating with the Class of 1967. As a member of the HHS Bobcat Marching Band he played tenor sax his honors included a prestigious math award, recognizing his placement in the 99th percentile nationwide. Although usually a good student, he and several male classmates sometimes deliberately neglected to stay at school all day
Bill was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Hagerman. After High School, Bill attended the University of Texas in Austin for two years. While at college, Bill drove school bus and worked parttime at various jobs.
His professional career reflected his various talents. Bill drove truck hauling hay, delivering gasoline and taking 3rd class mail from the East Coast to California. He was employed by Madsen Trucking of Roswell and Coastal Transport of Artesia and Phoenix. For a number of years, Bill ran a delivery route for Alco, servicing several stores in the Texas New Mexico district. Bill also tended bar, helping to open The Establishment in Roswell, working at The Oil Patch in Odessa, TX and the MGM Grand in Reno. While living temporarily in Laughlin, he dealt Black Jack and drove a city bus.
On December 31, 1981 in Roswell, Bill married Patsy Patterson Gavazza who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his father, Ed Smith his mother Mary nicknamed Indian Mary Smith his stepmother, Peggy Smith his paternal grandmother, Maude Hardin as well as numerous aunts, uncles and other relatives.
Bill is survived by his two sisters, Deborah Huckabee of Hagerman and Billye Turner of Bend, Oregon four nieces, Priscilla Jim Hedin of Holly, MI Patricia Barnett, Cincinnati, OH Pamela Barnett Roy Sanchez and Peggye Barnett Richard Peralta of Hagerman. He is survived by four greatnieces, Jessie Hedin, Garden City, KS Kayla Will Perkins, Johnson City, TN Kimberlee Sanchez and Nickye BarnettPeralta, Hagerman. Bill leaves behind three greatnephews, Payte Hedin, Holly, MI Alfonso Sanchez and Jamie BarnettPeralta, Hagerman.
He is also survived by Patsys three children, Lori William Hub Coker and Cheryl Frank Gatlin of Roswell and Steve Gavazza of California. Other family members left behind are grandchildren, Michael Patricia Gavazza Christopher Gavazza Sarah Carlos Pacheco Cathleen Coker Daniel Gladu Michelle Shane Talbert Autumn Daniel Arguello David, Kevin, Robert and Christiana Coker Emmalee AusmanGavazza and Raymond AusmanGavazza. Bill was greatgrandpa to Heaven, Hannah and Cameron Gavazza Connie, Caitlin and Caleb Pacheco Kylee Clements and Gaga Gladu James Talbert Christopher, Patricia, Isabella and Justin Arguello.
Uncle Bill is well characterized by the following thoughts from his niece, Peggye Barnett: I will miss your sense of humor, your sense of what Right looks like, your giving heart, your endless knowledge of the old school rockers, the way you shuffled your feet, your never wavering the glass is always a little over halffull optimism, and the way you captured the world frame by frame. Say hello to all our loved ones who went before you and let me know if its as peaceful there as you imagined Machu Picchu. If you are ever again in Vegas and you see a vampire, remember the laughter I love you and I will miss the tomorrows we wont have PS: Use lots of shaving cream.
He chose to be cremated and made special arrangements with his family for the disposition of his remains. A memorial celebration of Bills life will be held during the summer of 2013 with exact plans to be announced later.