Margaret Simei

Manuia le masina e alu ma toe sau. Le auauna lelei e, ma le faamaoni, ina ulufle mi I I le fiafia o lou alii.

Margaret “Tiana” Simei, 64 years old, passed from this life to join her brother, father, and mother on June 10, 2025, in Killeen, Texas. Margaret was born March 6, 1961, to Niue British nationals, Sisitupe “Silo’o” and Simei Tumutumu in Utulei Village in Pago Pago, American Samoa. She will be buried beside her mother at the Valley of the Temples in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

She graduated from Samoana High School in 1979 and joined the United States Army May 1986, completing her service in 1995. Her time in the military took her around the world to Korea, Georgia, and Germany. In 1990, she married (Ret. Army) Captain Ronald K. Smith, Sr. and adopted his three children Elizabeth, Cho, and Ronald Jr. During their marriage, two more children, David and Genevieve were added, completing her family with a final total of seven. Peach and Cherry, her chow chows, were added and were some of her most loved furry kids. She lived in Harker Heights, Texas until her death. Peach, Mom’s favorite pup, escorted Mom to be her companion in her final resting place.

After serving nine years, Margaret was honorably discharged from the Army and went on to be a full-time military wife and engaged parent, joining various school organizations, most notably Harker Heights Elementary PTO. She also had an interest in law enforcement and participated in the Harker Heights C.O.P.S. program, completing their program to be an engaged volunteer. Eventually that interest became a second career when she became a correctional officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Her next years were spent at the Gatesville Correctional Facility working through her promotions until she became a kitchen supervisor at the Crain Unit. Her co-workers there remember her as being friendly, helpful, and she medically retired in 2017 and spent the rest of her time raising her grandsons, gardening, and causing mischief with her best friend, Valinda Mills. Meeting when both their children were just starting school, they maintained a strong bond that surpassed the test of time. With her sisters so far away, Valinda became more of a sister than a friend as the years passed. If she was going to be with anyone, chances were Valinda was that person.

Growing up with Margaret as a mother was interesting as she introduced her Samoan heritage to her new half-Korean children by cooking Samoan food, attempting to teach them Samoan, and Fa’a Samoa. She was also known as “The Walking Dictionary” because she earned a reputation as being able to spell or define any word given to her. Thanksgivings got interesting when the traditional spread was swapped out for sea urchins, oka, sea cucumbers, and other sea-based culinary delights. She also cherished her sports car, a shiny black 1988 Chrysler Conquest TSi that she kept as she traveled all over the world. Margaret loved baggy clothes but had a deep-seated hatred for clothing tags and religiously cut every single tag off every article of clothing she owned. She loved her long hair in her youth but hated the maintenance - hence the shorter locks in her later years.

She loved…no, was OBSESSED, with reading and was always surrounded by books in various stages of completion. She is what one would consider a book dragon as she could hoard books with the best of them. She loved books in all formats and once she learned how to navigate e-books, game over. We created a book devouring dragon, but I’m sure B&N didn’t mind her addiction. Even the week prior to her passing, she took an armful of books back to the public library. She just loved to read.

Margaret was also a huge fan of thrifting and was always coming home with some deal to show off, especially holiday decor. She also loved Christmas and would pull boxes of decorations every year and decorate as much of the house as she could get away with. Gardening was another hobby she enjoyed and no matter where she lived, there was always a garden somewhere.

Margaret also believed in service to others, and she volunteered in so many areas throughout her life as she was a firm believer in doing good deeds.

Her proudest moments as a mother were becoming a grandmother and she took that role with pride. If you knew Margaret, you knew her grandchildren. She loved every piece of being grandma and the original art she displayed were only a tiny fraction of the mementos she kept that were from her grandchildren. She lived and breathed for them. She was the Grandma that always had something for the grandkids, and we do mean ALWAYS.

Margaret is proceeded in death by her father, Simei Tumutumu (1992), her mother Sisitupe Simei (2018), and her brother, Jimmy Simei (1989).

A logo tai ua logo uta. Her memory will be kept alive by her children Elizabeth (Shawn) Miller-Harker Heights, Texas, Cho (Andy) Mahiney- Austin, Texas, Ronald K. Smith, Jr.- Washington DC, Genevieve Simei-Smith- Harker Heights, Texas, and David Simei-Smith- Harker Heights, Texas.

Her legacy will continue through her grandchildren (Elizabeth) Aries Miller, Taj Brown, Alexander Miller, Lincoln Miller, (Cho) Maya Mahiney, (Ronald Jr) Ronald III, (David) Rowan Simei-Smith, and Genevieve) Brandon Hill Jr.

Her Samoan family include her sisters Mera and Tupe and her nieces and nephews (Mera) Demelza, Darren, December, Folosi, Meramina, Jimmy, Mathew, (Tupe) Mano, Tila, Kordel, Christopher, and Keanu.

In lieu of flowers we ask that you donate to any homeless or veteran organization of your choice.

The Smith-Miller Family would like to thank Killeen Police Department for their role in locating our mother and Harper-Talasek for organizing Mom’s flight home. We would also like to thank our Aunties Mera and Tupe in their guidance with Fa’a Samoa traditions our Mom was so proud of to make her service something she was proud of.

Matou te alolofa ia te oe ma o le a misia oe. Seia tatou feiloai I le isi itu o lenei olaga. Fa Mom.

We love you and will miss you. Until we meet again on the other side of this life. Bye Mom.