Lenoir, NC – Mr. Clarence Lafayette Smith, age 88, passed away at his residence July 19, 2010. Mr. Smith was born August 23, 1921 in Caldwell County to the late Walter Wilfong Smith and Ellen Moody Smith. He was a proud 1939 graduate of Happy Valley High School. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served in the 31st Infantry Division in the South Pacific and Phillipines, participating in beach landings in Guadalcanal, Luzon, and Bouganville. He was a long-term member of Calvary Baptist Church and more recently Tabernacle Advent Christian Church, where he taught an adult Sunday School class for close to forty years.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his wife, Nellie Pope Smith.
He is survived by his two children, Clarence L. “Zeke” Smith, Jr. and wife Pam of Raleigh, and Robin Morley, and friend John Carpenter, both of Morganton; a sister, Mrs. Pearl Adams of Lenoir; six grandchildren and spouses; Dylan Morley and Kelly of Wilmington, Jeremy Morley and Olivia of Hickory, Bryan Morley of Wilmington, Kim Bolton and Graeme of Jamestown, Angie Williamson and Eric of Wake Forest, Rob Lewis and Alicia of Raleigh; five great-grandchildren; Elizabeth Bolton, William Bolton, Kaylie Williamson, Jack Morley, and Mia Morley.
With the exception of one year, Mr. Smith spent his entire working life in the Lenoir furniture industry. He worked thirty-one years for Broyhill Furniture as a Cost Accountant and Process Engineer, and sixteen years with Bernhardt Furniture as Plant Engineer. During a one year stint with the state of North Carolina he received national recognition as the inaugural Boy Scouts of America Scout Master for developmentally, non-ambulatory, disabled boys with the J. Iverson Riddle Center in Morganton.
Locally, he was the first person in Caldwell County to be awarded the Pioneer Certificate by tracing his lineage, proving to be a direct descendent, of Morgan Smith, a Caldwell County resident in 1841, when Caldwell County was established. He was active for decades in Caldwell County youth sports programs, serving as football, baseball and softball coach and umpire.
In his retirement years, coin and stamp collecting, and genealogy became his hobbies. He was a passionate listener of the radio broadcasted games of Hibriten High School football and American Legion Post 29 baseball games, rarely missing a game over the past 30 to 40 years.
Beginning in 1975, with the birth of his first grandchild, he became PawPaw, and was a devoted grandfather to Kim, Jeremy, and Bryan.
He valued greatly his friendships with neighbors Charlie Parlier and Doug Cook, and friends Bill Phillips, Gary Ball, Ed Robbins, Rahn Chase, Bill Beane, Steve Minton, Lawrence and Jeanie Barlowe, and Steve and Arlene Coley.
The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Larry Lutz for his long term friendship and medical care, to Mrs. Shane Rose, and her family, and Mr. Frank Pounds for their support and care during the last several months. Additionally, Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care deserve special thanks.
A celebration of life for Mr. Smith will be held Sunday, July 25, 2010, 3:00 PM, at Tabernacle Advent Christian Church, with Reverend Johnny Carpenter and Reverend Frank Hall officiating. Interment will immediately follow the service at Blue Ridge Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Jeremy Morley, Bryan Morley, Sam Smith, Graeme Bolton, Rob Lewis, and Eric Williamson.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 25, 2010, from 2:00 until 3:00, at Tabernacle Advent Christian Church.
Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, NC 28645, or Tabernacle Advent Christian Church, 1522 Wildwood Road, Lenoir, NC 28645.
Online condolences may be sent to the Smith Family at www.evansfuneralservice.com
Evans Funeral Service & Crematory of Lenoir is serving the Smith Family.
