Claudine Smith

Claudine was born November 6, 1925 in Copan, Oklahoma, to John Waddie, and Mary Olive Curry South, as the younger sister of Pauline. She was raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and graduated from College High School in Bartlesville, where she met M.D. Smith, her husband of 74 Years.

Claudine and M.D. (M only D only) lived in Bartlesville working for Phillips Petroleum Co., and Edward’s clothing, finally opening their own women’s clothing store, MD’s, in 1964. Closing MD’s in 1967, they left Bartlesville and moved to Kansas City, then St. Louis, and then Chicago, eventually purchasing a home and retiring in Palm Harbor, Florida, in 1990. Claudine worked for a host of prestigious legal firms throughout her career, culminating with assisting the managing partner of Kirkland and Ellis in Chicago, IL.

Claudine had that rare irresistible combination of charm, focus, social grace, “sharp as a tack” memory, and full, ever in flower, emotional intelligence. She was welcoming, sentient, and ever aware of the shadows of shyness in others, and was a friend to all who knew her.

Claudine’s presence was a quiet reservoir of resolve in her family, and an irrefutable well spring of strength, integrity and warmth to those who came into contact with her. She was a stalwart Christian, an avid reader, a keen observer of human emotion, and an inveterate bridge player. OH - and what a Tampa Bay Rays fan!

Claudine is survived by her children: Gary Smith, (Kathie) of Lake Placid, New York, and David Smith, (Kym) of Matthews, North Carolina. Grandchildren: Garrick Smith, (Tracy) of Lake Placid, NY, Justin Smith, (Elissa) of Menands, NY, Kellen Smith (Hannah), of Hillsborough, NC, and Sagan Smith, (Thea) of Lawrence, Kansas. Great-grandchildren: Jackson, Lorelai, Grant, Morgan, Evelyn, Kelsey, Saoirse, Ciaran, Aleks, and William. Sister-In-Law: Doris Smith of Bartlesville, OK. Also included are countless others who have known and loved her.

We wish to thank the management, staff, and residents of Stratford Court for their friendship, laughter, grace and support of our mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother, throughout her many years of residence.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her honor to Suncoast Hospice Care Center, North Pinellas.