Dee Ann was born on December 27, 1953, in Slaton, Texas, the oldest child of James and Ruth Smith of Slide, Texas. She graduated from Lubbock-Cooper High School in 1972. She married Dennis Liles that same year. Dee Ann graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Education Degree from Texas Tech University in 1978. They were happily married for forty-three years. Dee Ann was an outstanding math teacher for thirty years before retiring in 2004. During her career, she touched many lives. She taught in several school districts, but the majority of her career was spent at Imperial Buena Vista and Sunray. She had an uncommon ability of connecting with students and inspired them to become successful. Dee Ann was preceded in death by her parents, James and Ruth Smith, and her younger brother, Jimmy Smith. She is survived by her husband, Dennis Liles; a daughter, Allison; son, Parker, and his wife, Cristie. She had one grandson, Jake. She is also survived by her brother, Steve Smith, and his wife, Terri, and sister-in-law, Teresa Smith. Dee Ann had an enormous heart, and she truly cared about the people around her. The family suggests that memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place in Memphis, Tennessee, 38105, wwstjude.org.