Julie Smelser

Julie Smelser of Las Cruces, NM and Bastrop, TX died peacefully in Austin, Texas surrounded by family on Monday August 14, 2023. Julie was a successful entrepreneur, language arts teacher, and mother of four. She was born in Hallettesville, Texas to Edward and Evelyne (Dierschke) Mican on August 5, 1943. Julie was known as Julia Rose Mican when she grew up in Victoria, Texas. She also enjoyed spending time on her grandparents’ farm outside of town. She loved wearing jeans when other girls were wearing dresses, searching for eggs in the hayloft and watching the stars at night on the porch. Julie and her sister Marjorie (Mican) Matula attended Nazareth Academy in Victoria, where Julia was president of her senior class. In high school she was a majorette in the band, active in the drama club and the honor society. She always carried high grades which helped her receive her scholarship for college. She was forever grateful for the scholarship Mr. Lambert offered her so that she could become a teacher. She attended Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio and became a secondary education teacher, specializing in language arts and history. She was fluent in French, Spanish, and Navajo. Her first teaching job after college was on the Navajo Indian reservation. This was a new adventure for her away from Texas. She enjoyed meeting and working with the Navajo Indians. While working there she met Worthington Smelser in Gallup, New Mexico. They married in November 1966 and went on to have two boys and two girls: Sherisse (Trevor) Hughes, Steven Smelser, Clarice (Stan) Strong and Whitney Smelser. Following Worth's highway construction projects, they lived all over New Mexico in places like Quemado, Gallup, Cuba, Albuquerque and Roswell. They stayed in Roswell once the kids became school age. In Roswell, Julie ran the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and was active many community projects. She was instrumental in bringing youth soccer to Roswell, a supporter of Boy Scouts and PTA, and a fundraiser for the Assurance Home. She was a member of the Roswell Chamber of Commerce. Once her kids were grown, she moved to Las Cruces, NM with the love of her life, RW Lassow. She taught school for many years at Zia Middle school where she received many awards including teacher of the year. Her final teaching role was at the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility outside of Las Cruces. The prisoners were some of her favorite students due to their dedication and love of learning. They kept her safe when the facility had violent events and lockdowns. Julie was a lifelong champion of the those needing help. After retiring from teaching, Julie's next chapter was entrepreneurship. She created and ran EverReady porta-potty business and was trusted by the contractors in Las Cruces to be reliable, fairly-priced, with well-maintained facilities. She also owned and maintained property rentals. Julie was a dedicated, lifelong traveler and adventurer. She enjoyed Buckingham Palace in England and cuddling husky puppies in Alaska and walking with the ducks on the lawns in Hawaii. She was preceded in death by her son Steven Smelser. She is survived by her son Whitney Smelser of Bastrop, TX and her daughters Clair (Stan) Strong of Tucumcari, NM and Sherisse (Trevor) Hughes of Berthoud, CO and her grandchildren: Jaegar, Heidi, AnnMarie, Park, and Christa Strong and Rosalie, Elyse, and Charlotte Hughes. Services will be in Bastrop, TX this Saturday August 26 at Bastrop Providence Funeral Home from 1-3pm. A reception will follow. Graveside services will be at a later date at Fairview Cemetery in Albuquerque, NM. Please contact Clair for more information, 575-708-0175.