Mattie Marie (Smith) Giles passed away on September 3, 2015. She was born on September 10, 1926, the third of nine children of Felix and Martha Smith. The family included two brothers and six sisters.

She was born in Blanco, Texas where she grew up. She was baptized in the Blanco River at the age of 13 and graduated Salutatorian from high school in 1945. After graduation she moved to San Antonio where she was employed as a long distance telephone operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. During that time she met her future husband J.B. They dated for four months and decided that they belonged to each other and were married on April 27, 1947. (68 years).

Her husband, J.B., was honorably discharged from the Navy after World War II. He enlisted in the Air Reserve and was called up during the Korean Conflict. Marie and J.B. traveled the world and across the United States over the next 31 years of military life, such places as France, Germany, Japan, Thailand, and numerous U.S. states including Hawaii. While stationed in Hawaii Marie and J.B. celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Their 50th wedding anniversary was also celebrated in Hawaii as a gift from their three children.

After 31 years of military life, Marie and J.B. moved back to San Antonio. She pursued a hobby of water color and oil painting and shared many of her paintings with her family and friends.

Marie and J.B. had three children, Vicki, Alan and Karin. Before the children were born Marie and J.B. made an agreement that she would not work but make their home and take care of the children and he would support her and make the living for all of them. Marie dedicated her life to rearing the three children. She did an outstanding job raising them and she also taught them the truth and showed them the way to go to heaven. She shared the story of Jesus and wrote on their hearts every word. All 3 children remain faithful to the Church of Christ, with Marie's and J.B.'s son an elder in Alabama.

Marie and J.B. continued to travel after retirement. They visited many friends they had made in their military career and shared the gospel of Christ with anyone they met. Marie always put God and family first.

After her health started to fail Marie continued to pray daily and attend church as much as possible. She was the perfect wife and mother and everyone she met became her friend.

Marie is preceded in death by her: father and mother ? Felix and Martha Smith, sisters ? Alta Hoffman, Jane Meddress and Caroline Pehl, and brother ? Olan Smith.

Marie is remembered by her husband, J.B. and their three children, Vicki Harris, Alan Giles and Karin Holland. Sons-in-laws: Gene Harris and John Holland and daughter-in-law Terri Giles. Grand-children: Raymond and Richard Harris and Erin and Emily Giles, grand-children in-laws, Mary and Texanna Harris and 6 great grand-children.

She is also remembered by her sisters, Rene Engleka, Catherine Hendrix, Bertha Crawford and brother, Wade Smith and their families.

We love you mom, grand-ma, great grand-ma and sister! We will miss you!

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 o'clock Tuesday morning, September 8, 2015 at the University Church of Christ, 115 Country Estates Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666. A visitation with the family will begin at 10:00 AM that morning also at the church. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 PM that afternoon in the Blanco Cemetery.

In Lieu of Flowers Donations may be made to the Central Texas Children's Home, 13200 Crane Rd., Buda TX 78610, 512-243-1386