Gloria Carlene Smith

1933 – 2021

Gloria Carlene Smith joined her parents, Pearl and Carl Swann, as well as her brother, Ronald Swann, in heaven on April 3, 2021. She transitioned with incredible grace and dignity on her own terms. She was surrounded by her five children, their spouses, and grandchildren in her last hours. Her spirit, her divine soul, the light that she is, will live on infinitely with her Lord and family. She was a daughter, a friend, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother, and so much more.

Carlene was born at St. Joseph's Hospital in Houston on October 26, 1933. She grew up in Houston's East End, graduating from Austin High School. She studied business and psychology at the University of Houston. She spent happy days in the country visiting her mother's family in Tabor, Texas where her Aggie uncles Raymond McCallum, John T. McCallum, and Alex McCallum and aunts, Alma Frances, Ella Mae Cooper, and Dale Sweeten resided.

She worked in accounting and payroll at her father's business, Swann Ice. She married Lieutenant Lee Roy Smith, Jr., the son of Alta and Lee Roy Smith Sr. on October 1, 1955.  Lee. Smith received a commission and was stationed in Sendai, Japan. She joined him on Easter Sunday of 1956, traveling by ship to the harbor at Yokohama. The newlyweds lived in Japan, traveling to Kyoto, Osaka and Nikko, Japan before returning to Houston's East End in 1957. In 1960 they bought their first home in Houston's Glenbrook Valley.

The family moved to Richardson, Texas where she made lifetime friends with neighbors Jan and Al Erickson and their four children. Carlene sold Sarah Coventry jewelry and worked as a substitute teaching physical education at her children's school, Spring Valley Elementary. She encouraged all manner of construction projects built by her sons with Lincoln Logs, Legos, Erector sets, and Fort Apache in her den. Her garage became filled with multi-level Lionel Train sets, where she created transformative landscaping of hills and tree groves.

Carlene made school clothes for her daughters and their Barbie dolls. Her kitchen counters were graced with science fair exhibits featuring erupting volcanoes and colorful salt maps. Once her children reached driving age, Carlene was often in the driveway with her children, helping out with the classic cars.

She and Lee later moved their young family to the Spring area in 1974, where they lived until this time. She traveled with her husband on many of his award-winning top sales trips to Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. After Lee retired from Brinkmann Instruments, they visited Poland, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Spain, Turkey, and Greece.

Carlene had a talent in floral design and worked at Cornelius Nursery, creating memorable works for her home. She enjoyed John Wayne westerns as well as film classics like Lonesome Dove, My Favorite Wife and American Graffiti. Her husband gifted her with a vintage 1956 white Thunderbird convertible, just like the one in the film for her birthday.

Carlene was a loving mother and wife who always put her family first. She raised her family in a Christian household, teaching them Christian values, provided wise guidance and prepared them for adulthood. Her positive outlook on life and sense of humor provided the foundation of a warm and loving home. Carlene was truly the epitome of a perfect mother.

She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Lee, their five children, eleven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren:

Michelle Leigh Smith: with daughters Katharine Lauren   and Jacqueline Leigh Gilliam, son-in-law Adam Gilliam with great grandsons, Ivory "Nolan" and Owen Mitchell Gilliam

Martin Keith Smith with children: Harrison Keith, Alec Michael, Jeptha Andrew, and Larkin Caroline; Craig Smith and wife, Lori; Karla Hardison with daughters, Jade Lynn, Gena Nicole, and Emma Rae; Lee Roy Smith III, his wife Becky with daughters: Sarah Elizabeth and Lindsay Nicole.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial visitation will be held at Klein Funeral Home at 16131 Champion Forest, Spring, TX 77379 at 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 9, 2021.

In place of flowers, the family suggests any memorial donations go to Alexander United Methodist Church, 5300 Alexander Cemetery Rd, Bryan, TX 77808. (979.589.2793)

The family will gather graveside at Forest Park, 6900 Lawndale, on Saturday, April 10 at 3 P.M.

Please visit Carlene Smith's tribute at KleinFHS.com where memories and words of comfort may be posted.