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Arlis B. Smith, 84, Enid, was born the second child of Marvin and Pearl (Hart) Blaine on the Jim Blaine Homestead just outside Lenora, Oklahoma, where her dad had been born. She was named Arlis Mae after two of her aunts: Aunt Arlis and Aunt Nellie Mae.
As an adult, Arlis Mae legally changed her name to Arlis B. Smith.
She graduated eighth grade from Lenora's one-room school and then attended Taloga High School, graduating in 1951. She went from being one in a grade to the largest class in high school with 22 students. She didn't much care for studies at Taloga, but she sure did enjoy band, basketball and boys!
Arlis' first job was with the Dewey County Extension Office in the Taloga Courthouse; she waited tables at the Dutch Lunch Café in the evenings.
She worked for Pan American World Airways accounts as payable clerk while stationed on Guam and Hawaii. She had almost 20 years with Shell Pipe Line Corporation in Houston, working in various positions.
When Arlis entered the business world as an adult, she quickly discovered that she needed more education. So, after 19 years and seven colleges, Arlis graduated from the University of Houston in 1970.
On August 15, 1970, Arlis was united in marriage to H. Russell Smith in Houston, Texas. Russ and Arlis enjoyed 37 years of marriage, living in Houston, Tulsa, and Mannford, OK. During the years that they lived in Mannford, they built a home on Keystone Lake complete with a boat house. They had a boat, ski bob, fishing rods, pool table, shuffleboard, and board games. Russell had retired and they both had their health. They loved taking trips and entertaining company at their lake home.
Being a person who always had a plan, Arlis claimed to have "a great house plan to have visitors." Russell was in charge of the entertainment and she was in charge of the food. They made a lot of good memories with the Smith kids and their precious nieces and nephews. She always said, "It was our best decade!"
Throughout her entire life, her Christian faith was the central part of her total being. Russ and Arlis were active members of the Jenks United Methodist Church where they enjoyed many activities. Arlis moved into the Methodist Continuing Care Home in Enid, Oklahoma, after Russ's passing. She remained there until health issues required her to move into the Garland Road Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
Arlis left this life for her Heavenly home on February 27, 2018. She was preceded in death by her husband, H. Russell Smith, parents Marvin and Pearl Blaine, and sister Arlene Terbush.
She is survived by: brother Cecil Blaine, sister Reeta Avery, brother-in-law Victor Terbush, sons Roger (Laura) Smith and Warren (Sherry) Smith.
Nieces and nephews: Mickey (Barry) Warren, Kay (James) King, Jo Miller, Janet (David) Cook, Vic (Lynette) Terbush, Nancy Goodner, LuAnn (Frank) Gillispie, and Annette Hill; five grandchildren: Lee (Teresa) Smith, Meredyth Smith, Jaclyn Richards, Jody (Lisa) Smith, and Victoria Smith; and seven great-grandchildren.
Family and friends may gather 2-8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Carlson Colonial Funeral Home, El Dorado, Kansas. Her funeral service will be held there at 1 p.m. Monday, March 5, 2018.
Memorial contributions in her name may be directed to the Jenks United Methodist Church in Jenks, OK. Please sign her online guestbook and leave a memory of Arlis at www.CarlsonColonial.com.
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