Ora Alice Smith

Ora Alice Kinchen Smith, formerly of Brownsfield, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at home in Walker, Louisiana, on March 30, 2023. She was born April 22, 1926, in Norco, Louisiana, grew up in Bayou Paul, and lived many years in Baton Rouge. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Clifton Earl Smith; her eldest daughter, Linda Dianne Smith; parents, John L. and Mamie LeBeouf Kinchen; sisters, Wilma Vernice, Thelma Lucky, Ernestine Chadwick, June Curtis and Pearl Wesley; brothers, John Jr., Jarson, twin brother Roger Sr., Paul, Huey Sr., Austin and Joseph Kinchen. Ora is survived by daughters Mildred (Grady) Caldwell and Gladys (Ned) Mynatt; grandson William (Malissa) Brooks; great-granddaughters Caroline, Madelyn, Rachael, and Jada; great-grandsons Jadan and Brendan; sisters Lovey Savoy, Audrey Shumate and Carol Kinchen; brother Francis; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ora was a loving wife, mother and a working mom. She was one of those rare people who enjoyed all her various employments and always took pride in her work. Ora began her career as a State employee at the Department of Revenue. She later transferred to the Department of Highways from which she retired in 1983 with more than 27 years of service to the State.

Over the years, Ora enjoyed cheering her girls’ sports teams, bowling (at which she won numerous trophies), trips with her Joy Club friends, playing cards, reading, and playing rhythm on her drum with her daughter Linda’s mountain dulcimer club. In her 90’s, she began coloring, creating beautiful colored pictures and explaining to her daughters who were amazed at her talent that she “had been very good at art” when she was young. She never forgot a birthday, and family members could always depend on receiving a card or phone call on their birthday. Purple and gold were her favorite colors, and anything related to LSU was always a welcome gift. She was a lifetime fan of LSU baseball and football and rarely missed watching the games on TV. Ora had many pets during her life and loved all of them, especially her dog Joey and Linda’s dog Bella.

Ora was always up for a good time and adventure such as when, in her late 50s, she spent her first night in a tent when exploring Cumberland Island with her three girls and grandson William. Another time, for her “widow ladies” Halloween luncheon, she dressed as a “bag lady” with a costume (complete with dress, hat and earrings) made entirely of plastic and paper bags. She brought the house down and won the prize for the best costume. She repeated that feat the next year, as a “Southern Belle,” in a costume made of aluminum-foil shaped as a Hershey Kiss.

Ora had a wonderful smile that she shared with everyone. During her stay at the rehab facility after her 96th birthday, her daughters needed only mention her name and everyone would respond “she is so sweet.” “So sweet” was the way most folks she knew and met felt about her. She was fun, funny, sassy, direct when she had something to say, and always gave as good as she got. She was a good wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, neighbor, mother-in-law, grandmother --- and a wonderful mother. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her.

Visitation will be at held at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, on Saturday, April 8, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. until the memorial service at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, the Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (Baton Rouge) or any charity of your choice.