Jean Sargent

Wilma Jean Smith Sargent died January 16, 2020 surrounded by her family and loved ones, both physically and in spirit. Jean was born September 7, 1921 in Briggs, TX. She moved to Lometa, where she grew up on the family ranch. She was the oldest daughter of Gordon and Ivis Potts Smith. She is preceded in death by her older brother Gordon Lowell Smith and her husband James C. Sargent Sr. She is survived by her younger sisters Anita Jo Smith Connell and Shirley Sue Smith Tucker (and husband Richard).    Jean graduated Lometa High School as Salutatorian in 1938. During high school, she met and fell in love with James C. Sargent. After high school and during the war, she worked as a beautician. The very first permanent wave she ever gave resulted in hair burned off the back of her first client’s head. This fact was never listed on her future resume. She did confess that she simply combed the remaining hair over the bald spot, and fortunately it was in the back.    On January 12, 1946, she married then-Captain James C. Sargent. In 1953, they moved to Lampasas after James finished pharmacy school at The University of Texas, bringing with them sons Gordon Sargent (Rusty) and James C. Sargent Jr. (Jimbo).    She was an enthusiastic participant in the Lampasas community for more than 66 years. She was a life-long active member of the First United Methodist Church and served every position they had (except pastor). Once, when asked if she would join the long-range planning committee, she replied, “Listen. I’m 89. Do you just have something you need done next week?”    She played with her beloved bridge club for not quite 65 years. She folded her cards in November, trumped by health issues, as she told her family that “it wasn’t fair to anybody to not play good bridge.” In fact, she so enjoyed studying a good hand that, when the Austin newspaper replaced the daily bridge column with Sudoku, her only response was “who cares.” She lived out the rest of her days a faithful subscriber to the Temple Daily Telegram, who had the common sense and decency to prioritize printing the bridge column.    She was very involved in her sons’ academics and extracurriculars, and they had her undivided attention until interrupted by the arrival of her daughter Betsy Ann. This disruption continued to her death. Overseeing the education of her three adored children, she was a dedicated volunteer for the Lampasas PTA from ’54 to ’79, the 25-year milestone at which she conferred to herself the Silver Anniversary Award.    Jean was known for being an incredible homemaker, seamstress, pimento cheese master, and peanut brittle queen. Most of all, she is remembered as a loyal, unselfish, and joyful friend, sister, mother, and grandmother. In her humility, she still had no idea how many lives she touched or how much laughter she created. In fact, she performed comedy at the Improv in Addison, TX from the age of 80 to the age of 90, at which point she said, “I need to go out on a high, plus I’m having a hard time getting up the steps to the stage.”    She leaves behind the legacy of a life well lived. Her children Gordon (wife Sheila), Jimbo, and Betsy Matheson (husband Scott); her grandchildren Lafe Sargent (wife Elisha), Blandi Brown (husband Ty), Jake Matheson, and Hannah Matheson; her four great-grandchildren; her nieces, nephews, and cousins; and her infinite count of friends will miss her terribly and think of her always.    “Let us go singing as far as we go; the road will be less tedious.” Virgil 70-19 BC   A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 o’clock P.M. on Sunday, January 19 at First United Methodist Church in Lampasas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church, Bend Cemetery Association, Autism Society of Texas (texasautismsociety.org), or the charity of your choice.