Corlene Jackson Blair Smith

Corlene left home at the young age of fourteen to work for a family until she graduated high school. She was one of three girls to get a scholarship to nursing school but did not have the ancillary support for bed and board to attend. She went to work at a furniture store as an accounts payable bookkeeper. She and Marvin met on a blind date, and after thirteen dates, they married. She spent twenty-one of the twenty-two years of Marvin’s Army service going where he went. She was a very supportive military wife and made sure that the home ran smoothly.

Corlene loved to travel but her favorite trips were to Canada. Corlene enjoyed digging in the dirt. She often referred to her garden as the postage stamp garden. Among others things, she enjoyed hosting musical events at her and Marvin’s house, some of which were professional musicians. She truly loved her family and enjoyed having them around during the holidays, Christmas being her favorite. Corlene loved children and got a lot of joy from them. In her waning days, she got the most joy out of her newest great-grandson, Jacob. She often referred to him as her “little buddy”. He brought so much joy to her life. Whenever Corlene saw an opportunity for happiness, she took it no matter how small. She never let the hard times override the good and she will forever be missed.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Smith; a daughter, Suzan Babcock; two sons, Scott Smith and Robert Smith; two sisters, Catherine Hussey and Berndean Hudson; and a brother, Bill Blair.

She is survived by a daughter, Lora Graves of Fort Smith; two sisters-in-law, Nancy Parrish and husband Randy of Pensacola, FL and Jimmie Shelley of Alma; eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 16, 2022 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow at the Fort Smith National Cemetery, under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren, AR.

Pallbearers will be Tim Smith, Kevin Smith, Caleb Smith, Randy Parrish, and Matt Phelan.

The family will visit with friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home, 4100 Alma Highway, Van Buren, AR.