Florence Smith passed away September 9, 2006, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Geraldine Jones, in Lompoc, California. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, September 15, 2006, at 2 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Lompoc, with Rev. David Horning officiating. Starbuck-Lind Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
Florence, lovingly known to five generations as "Grandma Smith," was born October 9, 1908, in Ellis County, Oklahoma, the sixth of ten children born to Richard Henderson and Eva Myrtle Hill. Her mother passed away when she was seven, so the family moved to Clinton, Oklahoma, where Florence attended Washington School. Her father died when she was 12. She was remarkably well read, even though she and her sister, Ethel, alternated between school and caring for their younger siblings.
In 1925, Florence married Hercel C. Jones in Clinton, Oklahoma. Five children were born of this union. They were later divorced.
Like many others, Florence struggled in the cotton fields and took in laundry to hold her family together during the 1930's depression and Dustbowl. In 1939, she packed up her family, kicked the dust off her feet, and hit the "Oregon Trail" bound for Talent, Oregon, in the beautiful Rogue River Valley, joining other members of the Hill family. Born on the Great Plains, she grew to love the western mountains.
During a brief marriage in 1942 to William D. Hunter, she and her children learned cattle ranching in Sams Valley, Oregon. While working for Standard Oil in 1946, Florence met and married Richard J. Smith, chief clerk for Crater Lake National Park. Together they began an adventurous life, living in several national parks throughout the country. Richard's realty business took them to San Jose and Redding, California. They spent many of their retirement years in the mountains of the Klamath River area. They later moved to Santa Maria, California. Upon Richard's death, Florence move to The Lodge of Lompoc, a place she called "home."
Florence's great pride was the role of "matriarch" over an ever-growing
family. She adored family gatherings: over 11 family members attended her 90th birthday celebration in 1998 in Talent, Oregon.
Survivors of this grand lady include her brother, Lewis "Bert" A. Hill of Talent, Oregon, son Jack (Geraldine) Jones of Lompoc, California; son, Neil (Janice) Jones of Medford, Oregon; and daughter Nelle Christensen of Medford, Oregon. Twenty grandchildren and numerous great and great-great grandchildren survive her as well.
Preceding her in death were her parents Richard Henderson and Eva Myrtle Hill; her husband of 48 years, Richard Smith; Ethel Buckles and Earl Jones, two of her beloved children; five brothers; three sisters; three grandsons; a granddaughter; and two great-grandsons.
Florence was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lompoc. The family wants to thank members of the congregation and the staff of The Lodge of Lompoc who contributed to her happiness and well being.
Florence, lovingly known to five generations as "Grandma Smith," was born October 9, 1908, in Ellis County, Oklahoma, the sixth of ten children born to Richard Henderson and Eva Myrtle Hill. Her mother passed away when she was seven, so the family moved to Clinton, Oklahoma, where Florence attended Washington School. Her father died when she was 12. She was remarkably well read, even though she and her sister, Ethel, alternated between school and caring for their younger siblings.
In 1925, Florence married Hercel C. Jones in Clinton, Oklahoma. Five children were born of this union. They were later divorced.
Like many others, Florence struggled in the cotton fields and took in laundry to hold her family together during the 1930's depression and Dustbowl. In 1939, she packed up her family, kicked the dust off her feet, and hit the "Oregon Trail" bound for Talent, Oregon, in the beautiful Rogue River Valley, joining other members of the Hill family. Born on the Great Plains, she grew to love the western mountains.
During a brief marriage in 1942 to William D. Hunter, she and her children learned cattle ranching in Sams Valley, Oregon. While working for Standard Oil in 1946, Florence met and married Richard J. Smith, chief clerk for Crater Lake National Park. Together they began an adventurous life, living in several national parks throughout the country. Richard's realty business took them to San Jose and Redding, California. They spent many of their retirement years in the mountains of the Klamath River area. They later moved to Santa Maria, California. Upon Richard's death, Florence move to The Lodge of Lompoc, a place she called "home."
Florence's great pride was the role of "matriarch" over an ever-growing
family. She adored family gatherings: over 11 family members attended her 90th birthday celebration in 1998 in Talent, Oregon.
Survivors of this grand lady include her brother, Lewis "Bert" A. Hill of Talent, Oregon, son Jack (Geraldine) Jones of Lompoc, California; son, Neil (Janice) Jones of Medford, Oregon; and daughter Nelle Christensen of Medford, Oregon. Twenty grandchildren and numerous great and great-great grandchildren survive her as well.
Preceding her in death were her parents Richard Henderson and Eva Myrtle Hill; her husband of 48 years, Richard Smith; Ethel Buckles and Earl Jones, two of her beloved children; five brothers; three sisters; three grandsons; a granddaughter; and two great-grandsons.
Florence was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lompoc. The family wants to thank members of the congregation and the staff of The Lodge of Lompoc who contributed to her happiness and well being.
Florence Smith passed away September 9, 2006, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Geraldine Jones, in Lompoc, California. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, September 15, 2006, at 2 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Lompoc, with Rev. David Horning officiating. Starbuck-Lind Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
Florence, lovingly known to five generations as "Grandma Smith," was born October 9, 1908, in Ellis County, Oklahoma, the sixth of ten children born to Richard Henderson and Eva Myrtle Hill. Her mother passed away when she was seven, so the family moved to Clinton, Oklahoma, where Florence attended Washington School. Her father died when she was 12. She was remarkably well read, even though she and her sister, Ethel, alternated between school and caring for their younger siblings.
In 1925, Florence married Hercel C. Jones in Clinton, Oklahoma. Five children were born of this union. They were later divorced.
Like many others, Florence struggled in the cotton fields and took in laundry to hold her family together during the 1930's depression and Dustbowl. In 1939, she packed up her family, kicked the dust off her feet, and hit the "Oregon Trail" bound for Talent, Oregon, in the beautiful Rogue River Valley, joining other members of the Hill family. Born on the Great Plains, she grew to love the western mountains.
During a brief marriage in 1942 to William D. Hunter, she and her children learned cattle ranching in Sams Valley, Oregon. While working for Standard Oil in 1946, Florence met and married Richard J. Smith, chief clerk for Crater Lake National Park. Together they began an adventurous life, living in several national parks throughout the country. Richard's realty business took them to San Jose and Redding, California. They spent many of their retirement years in the mountains of the Klamath River area. They later moved to Santa Maria, California. Upon Richard's death, Florence move to The Lodge of Lompoc, a place she called "home."
Florence's great pride was the role of "matriarch" over an ever-growing
family. She adored family gatherings: over 11 family members attended her 90th birthday celebration in 1998 in Talent, Oregon.
Survivors of this grand lady include her brother, Lewis "Bert" A. Hill of Talent, Oregon, son Jack (Geraldine) Jones of Lompoc, California; son, Neil (Janice) Jones of Medford, Oregon; and daughter Nelle Christensen of Medford, Oregon. Twenty grandchildren and numerous great and great-great grandchildren survive her as well.
Preceding her in death were her parents Richard Henderson and Eva Myrtle Hill; her husband of 48 years, Richard Smith; Ethel Buckles and Earl Jones, two of her beloved children; five brothers; three sisters; three grandsons; a granddaughter; and two great-grandsons.
Florence was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lompoc. The family wants to thank members of the congregation and the staff of The Lodge of Lompoc who contributed to her happiness and well being.
Florence, lovingly known to five generations as "Grandma Smith," was born October 9, 1908, in Ellis County, Oklahoma, the sixth of ten children born to Richard Henderson and Eva Myrtle Hill. Her mother passed away when she was seven, so the family moved to Clinton, Oklahoma, where Florence attended Washington School. Her father died when she was 12. She was remarkably well read, even though she and her sister, Ethel, alternated between school and caring for their younger siblings.
In 1925, Florence married Hercel C. Jones in Clinton, Oklahoma. Five children were born of this union. They were later divorced.
Like many others, Florence struggled in the cotton fields and took in laundry to hold her family together during the 1930's depression and Dustbowl. In 1939, she packed up her family, kicked the dust off her feet, and hit the "Oregon Trail" bound for Talent, Oregon, in the beautiful Rogue River Valley, joining other members of the Hill family. Born on the Great Plains, she grew to love the western mountains.
During a brief marriage in 1942 to William D. Hunter, she and her children learned cattle ranching in Sams Valley, Oregon. While working for Standard Oil in 1946, Florence met and married Richard J. Smith, chief clerk for Crater Lake National Park. Together they began an adventurous life, living in several national parks throughout the country. Richard's realty business took them to San Jose and Redding, California. They spent many of their retirement years in the mountains of the Klamath River area. They later moved to Santa Maria, California. Upon Richard's death, Florence move to The Lodge of Lompoc, a place she called "home."
Florence's great pride was the role of "matriarch" over an ever-growing
family. She adored family gatherings: over 11 family members attended her 90th birthday celebration in 1998 in Talent, Oregon.
Survivors of this grand lady include her brother, Lewis "Bert" A. Hill of Talent, Oregon, son Jack (Geraldine) Jones of Lompoc, California; son, Neil (Janice) Jones of Medford, Oregon; and daughter Nelle Christensen of Medford, Oregon. Twenty grandchildren and numerous great and great-great grandchildren survive her as well.
Preceding her in death were her parents Richard Henderson and Eva Myrtle Hill; her husband of 48 years, Richard Smith; Ethel Buckles and Earl Jones, two of her beloved children; five brothers; three sisters; three grandsons; a granddaughter; and two great-grandsons.
Florence was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lompoc. The family wants to thank members of the congregation and the staff of The Lodge of Lompoc who contributed to her happiness and well being.
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