Darlene Mary Smith

A proud daughter of the state of Wyoming, Darlene Mary Smith (nee Horton), lovingly known by family and friends as “The Woman Behind the Legend,” passed away on February 12, 2022, in the caring, compassionate Moreno Valley home of her eldest son and his wife, Paul Sr. and Joylynn Smith, after a valiant battle with a severely debilitating illness. In passing, Darlene rejoins her beloved husband of 50 years, Harry Norman “The Legend” Smith.

On July 14, 1933, Darlene was born to George F. and Susannah Azella Horton, then residing in the city of Kemmerer, Lincoln County, Wyoming. The youngest daughter in a family of three girls, Darlene reached young womanhood soon after the conclusion of World War II. Growing up, Darlene and her two older sisters were instilled with the best attributes of both their hardworking outdoorsman father and their frontier homemaking-skilled mother. These, along with the enduring principles of the Latter-Day Saint faith in which she was raised, were the immovably firm foundation upon which Darlene’s life was built.

Following graduation from Kemmerer High School, Darlene pursued professional certification as a legal secretary at what was then LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah. Upon completion of her studies, Darlene served in a civilian secretarial capacity in the US Air Force Judge Advocate General’s office at Hill Air Force Base, adjacent to Ogden, Utah. During a brief stay at the Kemmerer home of her parents in 1960, Darlene met the man she would soon betroth – Harry Norman Smith. Married for time and all eternity in the LDS Salt Lake Temple on April 16, 1962, Harry and Darlene first settled in the city of Show Low, Arizona, where Harry served as its City Manager.

Following the birth of their two sons – Paul Horton Smith, Sr., and Bruce William Smith – in Arizona, the young Harry and Darlene Smith family relocated to Southern California, residing for a time in Lancaster, El Monte, and Hesperia before ultimately settling in Mira Loma in 1974. Around the birth of their daughter – Dawn Cathy Smith (Walker) – Darlene worked for a time in a civilian secretarial role at the Azusa (California) Police Department. This was followed by further civilian service with the US Air Force, this time with its Judge Advocate General’s office located at what was then Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, California. Following the family’s move to Mira Loma, Darlene took a clerical position with “The Orange County Register” newspaper in Anaheim. This work was followed by a clerk position with the US Postal Service in Corona, California. Darlene enjoyed a lengthy career with the US Postal Service, finally retiring from the Corona Post Office on March 2, 2001.

Darlene’s absolute foremost joy in life were her three children, who in time and with marriages of their own blessed her life even further with 9 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Many passages of Holy Scripture pertaining to righteous motherhood are, in the memories of her children, explicitly relevant to the foundational role Darlene played in their lives. To them, James 1:17 will eternally be a worthy epitaph, which in part reads, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father…” Darlene is that good and perfect gift of motherhood, and so much of that which remains good in the character and hearts of her children is Darlene’s lasting gift of love to them.

In temporary parting, Darlene leaves behind her sons Paul Sr. and Bruce, and her daughter Dawn and their families. Darlene was preceded in passing by her infant brother, Ralph George Horton, and her two older sisters, Audrey Azelle Ikola and Nola Jeanne Kominsky.

Funeral services will be conducted at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 3600 Norconian Dr., Norco, California, on Saturday, March 12, 2022. Services will commence at 11:00 AM. Those unable to attend may view the services remotely via zoom at the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87406664191?pwd=S3cyd0toODVuanBHbThtTUNEcWFSQT09

Meeting ID: 874 0666 4191 Passcode: 002962

Thanks to photographic and video contributions shared from throughout Darlene’s extended family, a brief montage of her life and times has been prepared. This presentation can be viewed at the following link:

https://youtu.be/_FqqqTKCII4

This presentation can also be accessed via “QR” capable smart phones and devices: through the QR code in the photo section.

Family graveside services will be administered privately at the Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, California, on Monday, March 14, 2022.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.weaver-mortuary.com for the Smith family.