Lucille C. Clenaghen Smith

June 29, 1919, Portland, Oregon ~

May 4, 2012, Beaverton, Oregon

Lucille Clenaghen was born in Portland, Oregon on June 29th, 1919, to parents Frank and Nellie (Bell) Clenaghen. She was raised in Portland and had two brothers, Jack and Frank; and a sister, Marion. As a young person, Lucille loved to dance. She graduated from Grant High School in 1938.

In 1941, Lucille visited Hawaii on what became a very memorable eight- month extended vacation. Thankfully, she returned to Oregon before the invasion of Pearl Harbor.

Lucille exchanged wedding vows with Robert W. Smith on October 28th, 1944, in San Francisco, California. Robert was enlisted in the US Army at that time.

Lucille and Bob had two children, a daughter Denise and a son, T. Alexander.

Robert was employed by Southern Pacific Railroad, and in 1959, the family transferred to Bakersfield, California. In Bakersfield, Lucille served as an Executive Secretary for Mohawk Petroleum Co. The family later transferred to Glendale, California. While in Glendale, Lucille was employed by Forest Lawn Cemetery as the Personal Secretary to Dr. Hubert Eaton, the founder of Forest Lawn.

In 1980, Bob and Lucille returned to the Portland, Oregon area and it was their home base the rest of their lives. The two traveled extensively. They visited, experienced and explored over 30 countries together. Lucille especially loved Hawaii and made many trips back with Bob following her initial long- term visit there in 1941. Lucille also very much enjoyed playing Golf. At the age of 50, Lucille decided she would try her hand at the art of painting and very quickly revealed a great talent and aptitude. Some of her paintings received the “Best in Show” award at an exhibition at the Washington County Fair.

Lucille predominantly worked with pastel and watercolor. She created many wonderful works of art and some of those pieces are proudly displayed in the homes of family and friends alike. Not only did Lucille make beautiful things with paint, she also enjoyed knitting and made many things for family and friends. Lucille will be remembered as someone who enjoyed being social. She was comfortable sometimes being the center of attention and it has been said that she was the “life of the party”. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend and will be dearly missed.

She is predeceased by her parents; her brothers, Jack and Frank; and her sister, Marion Whitcomb. Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Robert; daughter, Denise “Denny” Hall (husband Lowell); son, T. Alexander Smith (wife Peggy); six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Lucille’s life will take place in Skyline Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, May 9th, at 11am.

Lucille will be privately laid to eternal rest in Willamette National Cemetery in Happy Valley, Oregon.

Remembrances may be made in Lucille’s honor to Oregon Humane Society.

Please visit Lucille’s Internet memorial and online guestbook at: www.skylinememorialgardens.com

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free

I'm following the path God laid for me

I took His hand when I heard Him call,

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

to love, to laugh, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way,

for I found peace at last, that day.

If my parting has left a void,

then fill it with remembering joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,

Ah yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with hearts of sorrow.

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I’ve savored much,

good friends, good times,

A loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed much too brief,

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me,

God wanted me now --- He set me free.