Samye K. Mccorkle

Samye Kay (Smart) McCorkle, 76, of Abilene, passed on to her heavenly home on Sunday, July 16, 2023.  A celebration of her life will be on Friday, July 28, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 S. Pioneer Drive in Abilene. A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 27, 2023, from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street in Abilene.

Samye was born on September 13, 1946 in San Antonio, Texas to Ivan B. and Kathryn Hough Smart. She was the youngest of three kids and the surprise addition who completed the Smart family.

Samye was raised in Rocksprings, Texas and loved to spend time on the family ranches riding horses and enjoying the outdoors. She was a cheerleader and also played basketball for the Rocksprings High School Angoras. The Smart family was actively involved in the Rocksprings Church of Christ, where Samye attended.

Samye graduated from Abilene Christian College in 1968 and received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree. She was a proud member of GATA social club and cherished the lifelong friendships she made at Abilene Christian. Her first marriage blessed her with two children, Laurie Rieder Smith and Lance Rieder who grew up in the Abilene community. She later married Scotty McCorkle in September of 2018.

Samye was a teacher in the Abilene Independent School District for 30 years. She taught at Reagan Elementary and then Bassetti Elementary. Ms. Smart was one of those special teachers who formed a bond with many of her students that lasted for years. Samye taught third grade and has attended high school graduations, weddings and baby showers of her former students. She retired from AISD in 2012. Before her teaching years, Samye spent some years staying home and raising her two kids, Laurie and Lance. She supported both her kids in their school and extracurricular activities, and volunteered her time to serve others. Samye rarely missed an event at Cooper High School and she was loved and cherished by her children’s friends. She was active in the Junior League of Abilene in years passed and after retirement she was active in her retired educators’ group, Delta Kappa Gamma.

To say that Samye is a “people person” would be an understatement. She never met a stranger and truly had a gift of connecting with others from all walks of life. Samye loved her church families and was involved at Southern Hills Church of Christ, Highland Church of Christ and later, Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. These wonderful church families and friendships were a gift from God and a blessing in Samye’s life.

Samye was preceded in death by her parents, Ivan B. and Kathryn Smart, her brother, Ivan H. (Bruzz) Smart, and her brother-in-law, Dennis Conaway.

She is survived by her husband Scotty McCorkle of Abilene, daughter Laurie Smith and husband Bob of Fair Oaks Ranch TX, son Lance Rieder and wife Amy of Abilene, and stepchildren Jennifer and Kevin Weinkauf of Abilene, Kimberly and Clay Ewing of Tuscola, Ryan and Stephanie McCorkle of Sweetwater; sister Edwina Ann Conaway of Fairview, TX; sister-in-law Catherine Guthrie Smart of Kerrville; grandchildren Lauren Smith, Trey Smith, and Michael Smith of Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, Ryan Rieder and Emma Rieder of Abilene; plus many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

The family would like to give a special thank you to Scotty McCorkle, Samye’s sister, Edwina, Susie Guerrero, and the staff of Hendrick Hospice Care for the compassionate and loving care they provided for Samye.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1651 Pine Street, Abilene TX 79601 or to the Ivan and Kathryn Smart Endowed Scholarship at Abilene Christian University. Gifts to the Smart Scholarship should be made payable to Abilene Christian University and directed to Gift Records, ACU Box 29132, Abilene, TX 79699 or give online at acu.edu/giveonline.