Carmen Jane Smith

Carmen was born July 16, 1940, in Crane Texas to Carl and Selma Howard, she was their only child. When Carmen was 2 years old her parents moved to Bakersfield, California where she would live the rest of her life. She attended Standard Elementary School, North High School, and Bakersfield College. She worked at several banks then retired from the County of Kern Welfare Department after 20 years. But her greatest job was being a wife, mother, and ma to her family.

Carmen is preceded in death by her parents Carl and Selma Howard and her Husband Ernie Smith.

Carmen was married to her high school sweetheart Ernest Waddell Smith on April 09, 1960. They were married for 34 years until brain cancer took the love of her life away to be with the Lord. They had a wonderful life filled with raising 3 active kids. She could always be counted on to be involved in every activity her kids wanted to participate in from homeroom mom, gymnastics, baton twirling, campfire girls, softball, baseball, football, 4H, horses, Jr. rodeo, gymkhana, camping, waterskiing, and their personal taxicab driver. During football season when her son, Steven was in high school, she would open her home every Thursday night for dinner to the whole football team. She would always have her home open to any of our friends that needed a place to live or just come over and hang out for the weekend. She would never turn anyone away. She had the most giving heart and was always willing to give her last dollar to help someone else.

Carmen is survived by her three children Tanya Krueger (Donald), Shelly Martens (Randy) and Steven Smith (Dena).

18 Grandchildren Tamara Huss (Matt), Kimberley Thomason (Austin), James Krueger (Mya), Michael Martens (Jordan), Natalie Martens (Ben), Mitchell Martens (Marissa), Tyler Martens (Kristina), Kaitlyn Fry (Derrick), and Jacob Smith (Nicole).

16 great grandchild Colby, (Shaliase), Dustin, Jaycee, Noah, Kylee, Callahan (due in Jan 2024), Kaleigh, Jace Joe (JJ), Mark, Shelbie, Abigail, Dane, Maycee, Hunter, Hadley.

1 great, great granddaughter Scarlett.

Also holding a very special place in Carmen’s heart was Jacque, Richard, Jamie, Wesley Underwood, Frankie and Casey Gottwald and their kids. She always loved them like her own kids and grandkids.

Carmen loved to spoil her kids and grandkids. She made sure to make everyone’s Birthday, Christmas, Easter, and Halloween a very special occasion for all of them. She never missed an event that any of her kids and grandkids were involved in. They were the jewels of her life.

Carmen’s faith was always important to her. She always made sure to let her kids and grandkids know that they needed to know Jesus and have him in their lives. She loved her gospel music and Christian TV shows. She was a member of Greenacres Valley Baptist church then transferred to Valley Baptist Church when her husband Ernie helped build the church on Fruitvale Avenue. She attended the woman’s bible study on Tuesday’s until she just couldn’t get herself there anymore.

As we reflect on her 83 years of life, we remember: Carmen’s love for the Lord, her love for her family, her generous gift giving to her family, the fun Easter egg hunts, scary Halloween masks, elaborate Christmas, the never-ending Fox News or Hallmark shows on her TV, and her love for her dog Kota. If you knew Carmen, you knew you were touched by a very special person.

Our whole family would like to express our appreciation to the Bristol Hospices Team for the wonderful kind care they gave our mom.

A funeral service for Carmen will be held Friday, December 29, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Hillcrest, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, CA 93306. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, CA 93306.