Mary Francess Smith

Obituary

Born April 19, 1926, in Healdton, Oklahoma to Claude Leon Giddens and Francess Catherine Giddens, Mary Francess moved with her parents and siblings (Paul, Tom, and Lorraine) to San Bernardino, CA just before turning 11 years old. She attended First Baptist Church on G Street, Sturges Junior High School, and San Bernardino High School. She attended art school in Los Angeles and worked for Security Title Company before her friend (and later, sister-in-law), Glenadine Smith, introduced her to her soon-to-be-husband William Grant Smith. Not only did Mary Francess become the wife of “Bill” Smith (married in First Baptist Church), but she also became part of his family (the Owen and Beatrice Smith family) and became big sister and life-long friend of Owena Smith (Amen).

Her husband, William Smith, had charge of the meat department for Owen’s Market (3 markets in San Bernardino and Riverside) and he later became a real estate agent for Al Austin Real Estate (later Austin Smith Real Estate). Bill eventually became broker/owner and expanded the business to 8 offices. As homemaker for the William Smith family, she raised 4 children (Patrick, Suzy, Debbie who married Michael Karp, and Liz who married Frank Chu). Raising their children included taking them to church every week, wonderful summer vacations in Lake Arrowhead, and all the other daily tasks of caring for a family of 6. Over the years, Mary Francess taught Sunday school into her 8th decade, served as deaconess, served as president of the local Christian Women’s club, served in the San Bernardino Republican Women’s Federated chapter, attended Bible Study Fellowship, became a member of the local Scottish Club, and for the past decade she delighted attending the Old Timers luncheons for San Bernardino High School Alumni. Her life travels included Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, Alaska, Canada, China, Philippines, and Israel.

Into her 9th decade she had 4 grandchildren (Franky Chu and wife Patty, Billy Chu and wife Becky, Paul Chu and wife Andrea, and Hannah Smith) and 5 great-grandchildren (Franklin, Colin, Owen, Kira, and Reina Chu). Her daughter Suzy was her caretaker. She and Suzy attended Immanuel Baptist Church, Missionary Alliance Church, and then First Baptist Church of San Bernardino. They read the Bible every night. They enjoyed family gatherings, Republican Womens’ Club luncheons, Old Timers’ luncheons, drinking Starbucks vente Caramel Frappuccinos, taking drives in our local mountains and beaches, taking neighborhood walks, sitting on her front porch, and talking to her friend Henry about the Lord Jesus Christ. Mary Francess continued her life-long love for “telling the old, old story of Jesus and His love”. After two wonderful days filled with family visits, she suddenly passed from this life into her eternal glory with our Lord Jesus Christ in the late evening of May 22, 2023. She looks forward to seeing you again!