Gerald Kenneth (Ken) Smith, 69, of Temple, TX, formerly of Groesbeck, TX, passed away on November 19, 2023. He was born on May 8, 1954, in Pocahontas, AR, to Butler and Velma (Rice) Smith. He lived in Ravenden Springs, AR until he was one year old, at which time his family moved to West Texas. They relocated to Pecos, TX when he was in the 4th grade. Ken graduated from Pecos High School in 1972. While in high school, he met the love of his life, Regena Fahle. They married on July 25, 1974. They both graduated from East Texas State University in Commerce, TX, in May of 1976.

He worked various jobs in East Texas until he landed a job at KCENTV in November 1979. They moved to Temple, TX, and eventually to Troy, TX. In Troy, the arrival of daughter Cassandra and son Jeffrey made the family complete. In 1996, he was hired by EchoStar in Cheyenne, WY. He moved to the Denver area, working for Fox station KDVR-TV in Denver in 1997. In 2001, he followed an opportunity to work at Fox station, KTBC-TX in Austin, TX. He became ill with colon cancer in 2004 and was medically retired in 2006. He and his wife continued to live in the Austin area until her retirement in 2014. They moved to Lake Limestone near Groesbeck, TX, to enjoy their retirement. He loved living on the lake, despite his limited mobility. He loved birdwatching from his chair in the living room overlooking the lake. In addition to birding, he loved camping and fishing. He and his wife spent many nights in campgrounds in Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Colorado. He loved TV and spent every waking moment with the TV on.

Ken is survived by his wife, Regena; children, Cassandra Bindea of Temple, TX, and Jeffrey Smith and wife Amanda of Pflugerville, TX; 5 granddaughters, Caroline, Charlotte, and Rosemary Bindea, Norah, and Peyton Smith; his father Butler Smith of Pocahontas, AR; brothers Tommy of Friendswood, TX, Danny (Denise) of Parker, CO, and Terry (Barbara) of Whitney, TX. He is also survived by 7 nieces and nephews and 10 great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, brother-inlaw Eddie Fahle, sister- in-law Diane Smith, and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Effie and Lester Fahle. A memorial on December 18, 2023, at Old Davidsonville State Park in Pocahontas, AR, with burial following at Bellah Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Cornell Lab Merlin Bird ID at https://merlin. allaboutbirds.org/.