Patricia Smith

Patricia Smith of Hot Springs died August 31, 2010. She was born Patricia Carolyn Floyd on November 11, 1929 in Enid, Oklahoma. She grew up in nearby Fairview, Oklahoma, the site of her great grandfather's homestead acquired at the time of the opening of the Oklahoma territories in 1893. Her father, Ralph Floyd, was a land man in the oil and gas business for Shell Oil. Her mother, Edith Wheelock Floyd, was a schoolteacher. Mrs. Smith, known as Pat, graduated from Randolph Macon College in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1950, as a biology major. She was a sorority sister of Bettie Mildred Smith, the sister of her future husband, Ray Sammons Smith, Jr. of Hot Springs. They were married in Tulsa, Oklahoma on November 4, 1950 and settled in Hot Springs. In addition to rearing five children and participating in her husband's political career, supporting civic and charitable organizations in Arkansas was Mrs. Smith's life's work. For years, she was on the board of Abilities Unlimited in Hot Springs, a sheltered workshop for disabled adults, and was actively involved with Group Living in Arkadelphia. For the last few years, she was a Trustee of National Park Community College, an institution she and Mr. Smith supported since its inception. Mrs. Smith was also actively involved with Mr. Smith's career as Garland County's State Representative for nearly 30 years. She provided the moral support and direction for Mr. Smith throughout his career, including during the crucial votes in 1957 objecting to giving Governor Orval Faubus powers to stop integration of Arkansas schools, and Mr. Smith's tenure as Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives. Mr. Smith, and a daughter, Patricia Carol Smith, predeceased Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Smith is survived by four children, William Randolph Smith of Washington, D.C., Scott Floyd Smith of New York City, Steven Bryan Smith of Hot Springs, and Suzanne Smith Palmieri of Silver Spring, Maryland, 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. The family will be receiving friends and family at their home at 805 Quapaw Avenue on Thursday, September 2, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Private graveside services will be held Friday morning. The family has requested donations in lieu of flowers to be made to Group Living, 710 Main Street, Arkadelphia, Ark. 71923-5928 or National Park Community College, 101 College Drive, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913. Guest register at www.grossfuneralhome.com.