Lorene I. Smith

Born in Cushing, Oklahoma to Hubert Humphrey and Martha Greenwood Anthis, Lorene graduated from Cushing High School. She married JP Smith, and the couple, along with their son, Michael, moved to Wyoming and Utah during the 1950’s as JP made his living searching for uranium in the West to meet the world’s new interest in that mineral. Eventually making their home in Roswell, New Mexico, they lived there throughout JP’s career with the United States Geological Survey. Lorene worked for several years at a Roswell furniture store, having been asked by the owners to become a part-time employee after her frequent visits to the store and interest in the displays and décor in the store.

During this time, one way Lorene shared her creative love of baking was by teaching her nieces how to help her make many different types of Christmas candies for the family to enjoy every year at Christmas. Afternoons spent together making these candies are among our favorite family memories. Another creative tradition Lorene shared was learning to make homemade high quality face cream, which involved choosing favorite perfumes and making trips to the pharmacy to buy certain chemicals, which probably are not available today over the counter. The tradition of hanging the beautifully decorated, personalized beaded Christmas stockings that she made for the family has become one of the most cherished family traditions for Lorene’s extended family, with several households still hanging their beautiful treasured Christmas stockings she made for each family member.

After returning to Oklahoma to live in the south Logan County area following JP’s retirement, the couple enjoyed their rural home, developing their flowerbeds and creating a welcoming home for family and friends to visit. Lorene served as a precinct worker during elections for many years and enjoyed this patriotic service.

A few years after JP’s passing in 1986, Lorene reconnected with a special friend from high school at a Cushing Tiger Reunion. This special relationship developed into love and George Wilkinson and Lorene married in Clinton in June 2002 and spent time in Guthrie and in his home in Weatherford, OK enjoying his performances with the Byron Berline Band as a drummer and emcee at the Music Hall in Guthrie for many years. George passed away in January 2017.

Lorene was a longtime and active member of the First Christian Church of Edmond, OK and attended the Homebuilders Sunday School Class.

She is survived by her sister Clara Anthis Royster Ryan of Cushing; daughter-in-law Marian Smith of Concho, Arizona; granddaughter Wendi Smith Heredia and husband Mario of Safford, Arizona, and their children Antonio, Rafael, and Gabriel; granddaughter Michelle Smith Morris and her son Michael Smith of Show Low, Arizona; nieces and other relatives including Suzanne Royster Crawford, Peggy Royster Cook, Julia Anthis Keller and Alice Anthis Davidson. Special friends Cindy and Dale Shattuck provided beautiful examples of Christian love and service in the hours of service and support they provided to Lorene following George’s passing and as her health declined.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, HH and Martha Anthis; her brother, James E Anthis; husband JP Smith; son Michael Smith; and husband George Wilkinson.

Memorial donations may be directed to the First Christian Church of Edmond, OK (201 E 2nd, Street, Edmond, 73034).