Published: August 15, 2009 10:39 am      

Claris J. Smith

Claris J. Smith of Pauls Valley was born July 30, 1937 in Lookeba, Oklahoma to Velma (Russ) Smith and Harley Smith. She passed away August 14, 2009 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma at the age of 72 years.

Claris enjoyed her children, nursing, gardening as well as crocheting blankets and Christmas stockings for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also loved working the Globe crossword puzzles and reading.

She has made the Garvin County her home since 1962. Claris was a caretaker of her family and friends. She worked and ended a nursing career with retirement from S.O.R.C. in 1999.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harley Smith and Velma Russ Niemeyer; a son, Paul Hengel; two daughters, Katherine Lei Hengel and Debra Marie Hengel; and a granddaughter, Rebekkah Leyendecker.

Surviving family include her six children: Charlotte Carroll and Earl Hengel of Pauls Valley, Lisa Leyendecker of Lumberton, Texas, Lori Wallace, Scott Smith, and Doyle Duke of Pauls Valley; 2 brothers, Chuck Niemeyer of Watonga and Roy Niemeyer of Edmond; 2 sisters, Donalyn Linder and Tammey Goble, both of Pauls Valley; 19 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews as well as many other loving relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held, Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Stufflebean Chapel of Remembrance officiated by Rev. Bill Harris. Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery under the direction of Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home.

Notes of Remembrance and/or Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stufflebeanfuneralhome.com.