Cynthia “Cynie” Smollen Magnant, 82, of Dickinson, Texas passed peacefully from this life on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 surrounded by her children. Cynthia was preceded in death by her husband Joe Magnant, mother Dot Smollen Goff, father James Dampeer Smollen and her niece Saralyn Thompson Cepak.

She is survived by her sister Diane Smollen Thompson Doty, her daughters Helen Barker, Chris Salmon and Marilyn Magnant (Jim Brown); sons Jimmy and Ray Magnant; grandchildren John Barker (Jared Pike), Jason Barker, Eric Brown (Kristin), Ben Brown and Melissa Brown, Kaleigh Magnant and Kyle Magnant; nieces Rebecca Thompson, Sharon Thompson Lee (Keith), Beverly Thompson Kuhn (Darrell); great niece Lindsey Cepak and her father Tim Cepak, great nephews Harrison Kuhn and Parker Kuhn, Jackson Lee and Josh Lee (Rebekah), cousins Suzanne ‘Sandy’ Gartman, Michelle Houston, many more beloved cousins and her dear friend Myrella Beyer.

Cynthia was born in New Orleans in 1938 to Jim and Dot Smollen, six years after big sister Diane. The family soon moved to Texas City where as a child, Cynie delighted in running around and dancing. In 1947, the family survived the Texas City Explosion; the girls were in school where windows were blown out and panic ensued. The city was in ruins so the sisters traveled to Mississippi to live with relatives and finish the school year there. Their story was even featured in a local newspaper article. Cynthia was always happy to recount her experience, sharing photos of the disaster and a prized piece of twisted metal she kept from one of the ships.

The Smollens soon moved to Dickinson where Cynie was active in marching band and ballet. After high school she attended North Texas State College, but returned to Dickinson in a few years and began working for the Fulbright & Jaworski law firm in Houston.

She met her second husband Joe at the bowling alley in Texas City. Cynthia was an avid bowler and participated in bowling leagues for many years. They married and their family grew to five children with Helen from Joe’s first marriage, Chris from Cynthia’s first marriage and then Marilyn, Jimmy and Ray. The family lived in Texas City and La Marque before moving to Dickinson at Christmas 1965. The kids remember Mama and Daddy setting up the tree on Christmas Eve and making sure Santa knew they had moved!

Cynthia worked as an office administrator for NASA contractors Lockheed, Rockwell and Boeing for most of her career; with stints at Tartan Oil and Old River Towing. While at Lockheed, she was nominated by her peers to be a Space Honoree, an honor of which she was proud. As an award, she was flown to Kennedy Space Center to witness a Space Shuttle Launch.

Cynthia’s interests included painting, gardening, travel and miniatures.  She focused on quilting in her later years and was a member of the Gulf Coast Quilter’s Guild in Alvin, Texas.

In her final months, Cynthia enjoyed the continuous care and company of her children, including home-cooked meals and shared TV time. Every day she loved admiring the beautiful flowers on her deck, especially the giant yellow hibiscus. She was a creative, kind, social butterfly. Always optimistic, choosing to see life through her rose-colored glasses. Her passion was her family, whom she loved dearly and who will forever hold this vivacious bright light in their hearts. We miss and love you Mama.

Visitation will be held Sunday, December 5th, 2021, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Parlor at Crowder Funeral Home at 851 FM 517 Road West in Dickinson, Texas. A memorial service  will be held Monday, December 6th, 2021, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the Chapel also at Crowder Funeral Home.

Private burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery In Dickinson, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Cynthia’s memory to the American Lung Association (lung.org).