Joan Kay Smith, born on Aug. 5, 1953, in Houston, Texas, left our world on Nov. 8, 2025, leaving behind many cherished memories of love for her family, her quirky sense of humor and unwavering faith in God. She was a devoted Christian and was always looking for an opportunity to witness about Jesus – always offering prayers. Throughout her life, Joan’s unwavering faith brought her thru many hardships and struggles she faced in marriage, raising her two boys and cancer at an early age. Her faith never wavered – it just grew stronger.
Joan was a loving wife to Danny Lamar Smith, with whom she was married for 30 years. She was a loving mother to her two boys, Danny “Peanut” Smith Jr. and Nathaniel Brian Smith. Joan was never blessed with any grandchildren of her own, but considered her nephew, David “Bubba” Ray as her bonus son and considered his sons Tanner and Hunter Ray as the grandchildren she never had. She was proud of them.
Joan enjoyed cooking and baking especially during the holidays. She loved music and dancing and had a collection of vinyl albums. Joan loved to go to flea markets, looking for antiques and gardening in her yard – she loved flowers. She was a gentle and caring person and loved her family.
Joan is preceded in death by her father, Henry Louis Niekamp Sr.; her mother, Betty Lou Joslin; her husband Danny Lamar Smith; brother James Randall Niekamp and sister Sandra Arlene Morrow.
Survived by her two sons, Danny “Peanut” and Nathan Smith, her loving siblings and their spouses, Brenda and David Ray, Louis Niekamp, Sharon Sturm, Larry and Gloria Niekamp, Ronnie and Juanita Niekamp, Karen and JR Rucker, Lisa Niekamp, sister-in-law, Tammy Niekamp and her many nieces and nephews. A special thank you to Ronnie and Juanita for taking such good care of her these last few years, providing comfort and happiness.
A visitation for Joan will be held at Neal Funeral Home on Friday Nov. 14, 2025 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. A Funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. with her internment immediately following at Rosewood Cemetery in Porter, Texas.
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