04/08/2026
Mrs. Eva Mae Tyeskie Smith
Funeral services for Eva Mae Tyeskie Smith, 84, of Kilgore, Texas, will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Forest Home Baptist Church, 15746 County Road 173 N, Kilgore, TX 75662, with Rev. Roger Smith as eulogist. Victory Funeral Services of Kilgore is in charge of the services.
Eva Mae began her journey as the beautiful, loving person she was by being born in Gladewater, Texas, on June 29, 1941, one of five children to the parentage of Neal and Rosie Mae Brittain Tyeskie. She departed this life as the last one of the five children on March 31, 2026, at her home, amidst her loved ones.
Her Christian walk started by uniting with and being baptized at St. John Baptist Church in Kilgore and later followed by membership at Progressive Church in Gladewater, Texas. She completed her earthly service to God at St. Paul Baptist Church in Tatum, Texas, where she served as needed.
Her education was garnered in the Gladewater Independent School District prior to relocating to Kilgore, Texas.
She worked many years in private homes as a sitter, as a bus driver in Kilgore Independent School District, and in food service at Laird Hospital and KISD as well.
When not being the Greatest Grandmother of All Times, she could be found committed to the things she loved, fishing or cooking, both of which she excelled at. Being the excellent cook that she was, she was ever present at the Sherman R. Smith Community Room during the Tatum Nutrition weekly meals.
Although she was the mother of nine children, she served as an encouraging mom figure, spreading love and compassion for many more in her community, on her bus, and in her church. The overwhelming response to her passing has been memories of her loving heart and sweetness to all she encountered.
Her parents, her husband, John Smith, her sisters, Ella Hollis, Ozzie Lee Green, and Novie Scott, her brother, Otis James “J-Bo” Tyeskie, two grandsons, Ta**us Tyeskie, and Damian Reeves, two of her best friends, Mae Ella Haynes Kennedy and Ernest West all preceded her in death.
Left to mourn her passing are her children, Patricia Tyeskie of Henderson,TX; Johnnie Mae Tyeskie Roberson of Dallas, TX; Maxine Kind of Overton, TX; Victoria Tyeskie Holman of Kilgore, TX; Jace Tyeskie of Kilgore; Connell Tyeskie, of Kilgore; Rose Tyeskie Jackson of Hallsville, TX; Jessie James Tyeskie of Tulsa, OK; and Eva Nichole Jones and her husband, Corey of Kilgore; 28 grandchildren, 82 great grandchildren, ten great-great grandchildren, special friends, Javon Griffin and Martha Jane Williams both of Kilgore, TX; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Victory Funeral Services of Kilgore, Texas.