Arva Lee Smith Lawless, 83, of Stoneham, died Wednesday, July 25, 2012, at College Station Medical Center in College Station.

A gathering of family and friends was held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Sunday, July 29, 2012, at Lindley-Robertson-Holt Funeral Home.

Gravesides services with a Dedication of the Grave, was held 10:00 am Monday, July 30, 2012, in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Anderson with Martin Thomas and Craig Foster presiding.

Arva was the only child born Monday, August 20, 1928 in Houston, to Elton David and Thelma Diamond Darrell Smith, Sr. She grew up in the Heights and attended Reagan High School. When she was 16, her family moved to Bryan and she attended Stepehn F. Austin High School. After WWII she met Leslie Vernon and they were married April 19, 1946. Two years later, Sherrie was born. They moved to Houston and made their life there. When Sherrie left for college, Arva started working for the Cityof Houston in the planning commission department for over 7 years. Arva and Leslie divorced in 1973. Some years later, she met the love-of-her-life, Jack lawless. They were married in March of 1991 and made their home in Stoneham. Arava and Jack worked with Grimes County Crime Stoppers and they loved to go to different antique shops.Arva loved to be with friends and family, however, her true love was spending time with family. She adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a regular at Imhoff's General Store for lunch to visit with the regulars and was quite a card shark. Arva will be remembered for her unique sense of humer and how she like to pck-at and tease her friends. She was a very warm and loving person.

Survivors include a daughter, Sherrie Schepis of Navasota; a brother, Billy Lawrence Smith of Laredo; 4 grandchildren, Wade Schepis and wife Misty, Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Schepis and wife Sandra, Katy Schepis Edmondson and husband Garrett and Lacy Schepis Williams and husband Tony and 7 great grandchildren.

For those that desire, the family has suggested memorials to Wounded Warriors Project at www.woundedwarriorsproject.org or the Alzheimer’s Foundation at www.alzfdn.org.