|  |  |
|
| | |
© The Chickasha Express-Star Chickasha, Oklahoma Tuesday, September26, 2006 Chickasha, Oklahoma July 13, 1935 ~ September 24, 2006 Funeral service for Clarence Sherman "John" Smith, age 71, of Chickasha, Oklahoma, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 27, 2006, in the First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Barbara Hunt will officiate. Clarence Sherman "John" Smith passed away Sunday, September 24, 2006 at Grady Memorial Hospital after many medical challenges with his family at his bedside. John and his older twin Lawrence were born July 13, 1935 in Porum, Oklahoma near his father's Cherokee land allotment. His parents were Julius and Emma [Rushing] Smith. John and his family moved just east of Anadarko, Oklahoma in 1941, where he attended Roach School and joined the Roach Missionary Baptist Church, where he was baptized. At the Roach Baptist Church on December 31, 1949, he met his childhood sweetheart Dolores, daughter of the minister, Rev. L. D. Wilkes, and they went steady for the next five years. In 1953, John joined the U.S. Marine Corps, completing basic training at Camp Pendleton, California. He proudly served his country for the next four years, traveling around the world aboard the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Antietam. In 1956, while completing his tour of duty at the Naval Depot near McAlister, Oklahoma, he met Shirley Green, and they married in 1957. John was honorable discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1961, after serving four years active duty and four years in the Marine Reserves. He attended Oklahoma State University's School of Technical training at Okmulgee for two years, earning certification in Auto Body Metal and Painting. He followed that career over the next 40-plus years, from his first job at Reynolds Ford in Norman to the Mercedes Benz dealership in St. Louis, MIssouri. John spent over 30 years in St. Louis, where he was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign War. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, and an active member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, serving as Grand Master of Trinity-Keystone Lodge. As a member of the Shriners organization, he enjoyed being Santa each Christmas, as well as helping with many other Shriner activities. John returned to Oklahoma in 1999, after reunited with his childhood sweetheart, Dolores Wilkes Willoughby, at a Smith Family Reunion in Anadarko. He and Dolores were married August 1, 1999, in Chickasha, where they made their home. As long as his health permitted, he volunteered yearly for the Chickasha Festival of Lights. He and Dolores enjoyed dancing and especially loved spending time with family and friends at their place on Lake Thunderbird in Norman. John was proud of his Cherokee heritage and was an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation. John was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Emma Smith, brothers, George Earl, Bobby Eugene, Kenneth Wesley, and twin Lawrence Thurman Smith. He is survived by his wife, Dolores, of the home; two daughters, Margie Cheryl Boatright of Guthrie, Oklahoma and Christie and husband Jimmy Cates of Richland Hills, Texas; granddaughter Nikki and husband Eric Todd Scott of Guthrie; grandsons Nicholas and Shawn Cates of Richland Hills, Texas; the mother of his daughters, Shirley J. Green Dodd of Guthrie, Oklahoma: stepson Michael and wife Debby Willoughby of Overland Park, Kansas; stepdaughter Melissa and husband Lennox Onesalt of Oklahoma City; stepgrandsons Brandon and Jonathan Cunningham; and cherished great granddaughters Cameron Elise and Tru Isabella Summer Cunningham of Chickasha, dearly loved by their "Papa John." John is also survived by sisters, Dorothy and husband Clinton Flowers, Eva Dorman, Margie and husband Bob Klusmeyer, Stella and husband Johnny Richardson, Josephine Hicks, Frieda and husband Dean McHorse, Sioux and husband Raymond Vann, and Thaylia and husband John Casteel; brothers Bill and wife Louise, Cleo and wife Bernie, Julius and wife, Carl, and Randy; Dolores' sisters, Dorothy and husband Clayton West; Ruby and husband Benton Prather; and a host of nephews and nieces. He also leaves his "Lake Family" members of the T-Bird Recreation Club at Lake Thunderbird; special neighbors Marvin and Sophie Staab, who cared for our home and pets throughout John's illnesses; VFW friends; and the skilled and dedicated professionals who took such great care of John throughout his four years of medical challenges: Dr. Hess, Dr. Wright and Brian, Dr. Imes and Bonnie; the Lifeline Health staff, including Krista, Pam, and Joy; Grady Memorial and Integris Baptist nurses and staff; and Chateau De South Friends. He met his many health challenges with a smile, a wonderful attitude and a strong determination to enjoy each day he was given. Though we miss him terribly, we know he has gone to a better place where he can now enjoy the peace and rest he so richly deserves. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in John's name to Chickasha Access Free Clinic [% Mrs. Fern Allen]; One-Room School Centennial Project [% Mrs. Loretta Jackson]; Chickasha Public Library [% Catherine Cook]; or the Summer Lunch/Book Program [% Rev. Barbara Hunt]. Interment will be in the Fairlawn Cemetery. Service will be under the direction of the McRay Funeral Home. |
This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000-2024 Oklahoma CemeteriesThe information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to Oklahoma Cemeteries to make it available online. This material will always be available at no cost, it will always remain free to the researcher.