Lura Lorene Smith

Lura Lorene Smith, 101, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Sunday, February 12, 2012. A devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, relative and friend, Lorene loved life.

Born one of five children on September 10, 1910 to George and Maud Thomas, Lorene was raised on a farm in Northeast Texas. Graduating from High School at the start of the Great Depression, she began to pursue a degree in education at East Texas State Teacher’s College.

In 1930 she met Raymond Robert Smith and after a long courtship they married in 1936 and moved to Houston to work and raise their two sons.

After four years of night school at the University of Houston, Lorene graduated with a B.S. in education in 1956. She taught second grade in Houston for 25 years.

During their almost 50 years together, Lorene and Raymond loved to travel, they loved to go to movies and baseball games, and Friday nights they loved to play “42” in family homes. Most of all they loved each other.

Sunday mornings and nights were set aside for fellowship, service and worship at Eastwood and Broadway Baptist Churches in Southeast Houston.

Lorene is preceded in death by her husband Raymond and brothers, Jewell, John and Jerry Thomas. She is survived by her two sons, Ray Bob and wife Judy and Bill and Connie Buckalew. Also “Gram” will be missed by her three grandsons Louis, Matthew and Mark.

Lorene is survived by her dear sister, Mrs. Marguerite Jackson of Huntsville. Her nieces Betty and Esther of Huntsville, Mary of Longview, Sue of Tasmania and nephew Richard of Colorado also survive her.

“Aunt Lorene” will be remembered by June, Patsy, Glen, Tony, Larry, Jerry, Jimmy, Mike and Dennis, members of the Smith family.

Special appreciation is extended for the love given to “Mrs. Lura” by the caring hands of Emeritus Senior Living in Friendswood and Regent Care Center in League City.

Longevity is seldom obtained without excellent medical and compassionate care, and the family wishes to acknowledge Dr. Linda Pouzar and the staff at Clear Lake Family Physicians.

Funeral services will be conducted at Forest Park East Funeral Home in Webster, Texas on Thursday Morning, February 16, 2012

A visitation celebrating Lorene’s life will begin at 11:30 AM with funeral services following at 12:30 PM with Rev. Ernest Weedon and Rev. Randy Fowler, officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Park East Cemetery.