VELMA LOU SMITH, age 89, a resident of Irving for 60 years, died Monday, September 30, 2013 at a care center in Allen, Texas. Born March 2, 1924 in St. James, Missouri, she was the daughter of Samuel A. Sullivan and Gertrude A. Holberg Sullivan. Lou was a Christian believer. She loved to dance. Lou loved her family and supported them unconditionally. She was a caregiver to her family and to her husbands family all of her life. She was totally committed to her daughters. Preceded in death by her parents, her husband, James C. Smith, and three siblings, she is survived by her daughters, Donnis Newman of Plano, Jima Gardner and husband Rick of Florida and Rita Morrison of Princeton; seven grandchildren; twenty great grandchildren; and six great-great grandchildren. A graveside service will be held 3:30 p.m., Saturday, October 5 at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, 1413 East Irving Blvd. in Irving with Chaplain Terry Maze officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society (restrict to melanoma research), 8900 John W. Carpenter Freeway, Dallas, TX 75247.