Carolyn Elizabeth Smith

Carolyn was born February 11, 1942, in Reno, Nevada, to Harold Collins Webb of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Mary Elizabeth “Bettye” Piers of Elko, Nevada. Like most of her father’s family, Carolyn was baptized and confirmed a Latter Day Saint.

Carolyn attended El Camino High School in Carmichael, CA, and was the Editor of the school yearbook her Senior year. Then, Carolyn met the love of her life, Douglas Barry Smith; they married on August 7, 1960 in Sacramento and immediately moved to San Francisco where Barry attended Pharmacy School at UCSF. By the time of Barry’s graduation in 1964, Carol & Barry had two children: Steven and Diana. Upon Barry’s graduation, the family moved to the San Joaquin Valley for work, and Carol and Barry bought their first home in northwest Fresno.

Carolyn & Barry opened their first pharmacy, Medical-Dental Pharmacy, on February 17, 1969 at Millbrook & Shields in Fresno. Through the 1970’s and 80’s, Carol & Barry grew a small cache of local pharmacies which subsequently expanded into Compounding. After 52 years of business, Medical-Dental Pharmacy finally closed during COVID, but the family pharmacy tradition is being carried on today by Diana at her Pharmacy, QuantumRx.

When Carolyn wasn’t busy running the financial side of the pharmacy, she could be found sewing together homemade Halloween costumes for her children, running a little league snack bar, hanging out with neighbors secretly smoking or shuttling her children around to their sporting events. Just like her mom Bettye, Carolyn was a master in the kitchen. Carolyn taught her kids to cook, her kitchen table was always full of delicious foods and whether it was family, neighbors or her kids’ friends, the seats were never empty. Unhappy with sports opportunities for girls, Carolyn was also the co-founder of girls’ youth soccer in the Fresno area in the early 1970’s, and went on to administer youth soccer coaching certification at both the state and national level by the 1980’s.

As each of her kids left home in the 80’s to attend college and graduate school, Carolyn & Barry moved up to Millerton Lake and began travelling the world extensively. Carolyn was also an expert navigator and could always be found seated next to Barry in the family plane guiding the way. Locally, Carol and Barry also remained active in the Corvette Club and American Contract Bridge Association.

But, Carolyn’s greatest joys were her grandchildren: Zachary Smith, Heather Morton, Kristian Morton, Holli Morton, Sasha Smith and Sadie Smith, and she would do anything for them. Carolyn will be sorely missed and never forgotten, and her pioneer spirit lives on through each of them.

Carolyn is survived by her son Steven D. Smith, his wife Elana, and their three children, Zachary, Sasha and Sadie, and her daughter Diana Lynn Smith Laurent, Diana’s husband Ted Laurent, Jr., and Diana’s three children, Heather, Kristian and Holli.

There will be no services. Instead, a celebration of Carol’s colorful life will take place on November 11, 2023 with details to follow.

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