Lorene "Mimi" Wood Smith Clayton

Lorene "Mimi" Wood Smith Clayton passed away February 13, 2011, in Dallas, Texas, where she resided for the last six years of her life. She was surrounded by the love of family and many friends during her brief illness. Lorene was born June 4, 1914, in Bluffton, Arkansas. She was the second of eight children of Hester Ann Worley Wood and Monroe Henderson Wood. She married her first husband, Clarence Leo Smith, in March of 1932 and had one son, Jimmy Leo Smith. Lorene and Leo moved to Dumas, Arkansas in 1937 where she spent the next 67 years active in school, civic, social and church work. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Dumas for many years where she was Y.W.A. director, Counselor for G.A.'s, Assistant Superintendent of the Junior High Department of the Sunday School and a teacher of 11-year-old girls for fifteen years. Lorene was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for over fifty years where she served as worthy matron and grand representative of the Grand Chapter of OES of Arkansas to Minnesota for two years. She was also active in the By-Way Garden Club where she served as secretary, and was PTA secretary for several years. She began working as a distributor for Viviane Woodard Cosmetics in 1966, was appointed director in 1969 and continued working for the company until her death. After the death of her first husband, Lorene married Ralph H. Clayton in January, 1974. She and Ralph were very active members of First United Methodist Church, Dumas, where she was a member of Circle V and a Sunday school teacher. In addition to her service to the church, Lorene served as president of Friends of the Library and was a member of the Southeast Regional Library Board. She was a major force in the fundraising efforts for the Dumas Branch Library for which she was most proud. Lorene moved to Dallas in 2004, presiding at Whiterock Court, an independent living retirement community. She made many new friends and participated in a variety of activities including bible study, beanbag baseball, jewelry-making, painting and was leader of the exercise class. Lorene is preceded in death by her parents, her late husbands, and five siblings. She is survived by her son, Jimmy Smith and wife, Mary Catherine, of Dallas; granddaughters: Lynne Henderson and husband, Kirk, of Longview, Texas; Amy Moseley and husband, Ric, of Dallas, Texas; great-granddaughters: Sarah and Mary Claire Henderson and Kate and Maggie Moseley; stepson, Johnny Clayton and wife, Harriet, of Sugarland, Texas; granddaughter Ashley Clayton of Sugarland, Texas; sisters: Inez Wood Storment and Berline Wood Patton, both of Danville, Arkansas, and many nieces and nephews. Burial will be at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 16, at Walnut Lake Cemetery in Dumas, Arkansas, followed by a service of Celebration and Resurrection at 1:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. Dr. Tandy Hanson will officiate. Friends and family are invited to a reception following the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, Dumas, Arkansas or a charity of your choice.