Lorene Smart

Lorene was raised in Roff, Oklahoma across the street from the town school. On her first day of school, she went off to first grade but came home that afternoon already promoted to second grade. She said you had to learn quickly with two older sisters and two younger brothers! Her least fond memories of school, however, included getting into trouble - her parents knew about it before she made it home!

As part of the Parker Brothers (Carousel) Family, Lorene worked in her family's shooting arcade at carnivals throughout the state during her high school years. After graduating as valedictorian, she attended nursing school in Muskogee where she served as a WWII U.S. Army Cadet Nurse. She met her husband, Allan, while attending East Central State College and working as a nursing supervisor at Valley View Hospital in Ada. Lorene was also in a sorority and voted All-Around Girl on campus. She did not need much sleep! She graduated with a degree in Biological Sciences/Chemistry. She worked for many years in the nursing profession as Pontotoc County Health Nurse, industrial nurse with Boeing in Wichita, Kansas, and then as a public school nurse in Fort Worth, Texas. She spent many years working in Monnig Middle School and Western Hills Elementary. She so enjoyed her coworkers. Most of all she enjoyed the children, especially those awkward middle schoolers. She often said her day's challenge was not to laugh! Lorene completed her Master's degree from Texas Women's University in the late 1970's. She retired in 1990 after 26 years with the school system.

Lorene loved her Chancey and Smart families. Weekends most every month were spent back in Oklahoma with family. Family was most important to her! She loved, respected, and adored Allan; she loved to laugh and have fun with him. Lorene's hobbies included being a Scout leader, camping, hunting, square dancing, dinners with friends, traveling, water aerobics, scuba diving, and shell collecting with friends and family at their winter retreat at the South Padre Island Beach condo. She might not have loved cooking, but her sons-in-laws and grandchildren loved eating what she cooked! Lorene stayed young at heart- she went bungee jumping in New Zealand when she was 65. She and Allan completed their last scuba dive in 2007 with their grandsons, Michael and Matthew. (Their granddaughter, Kristin, also got her scuba certification later.) Lorene also enjoyed painting, and especially enjoyed sharing this creative pursuit with Kristin. Lorene's artwork is displayed proudly at each of her children and grandchildren's homes. Lorene was always happy to share her square dance clothes and jewelry for games of dress up.

Lorene was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She taught responsibility and hard work, and to always do your best. She taught her children to be thrifty, pay off their mortgages early, and to always give to the church. She was also incredibly loving and supportive. Lorene could convince her frazzled daughters that had full time jobs, no sleep and colicky babies that they were doing the best job as mothers! It was also quite a compliment when her young grandchildren got into a serious argument over which of them was most like Grandma Smart. She did probably bribe them, however, by teaching them to spit watermelon seeds at the the family cabin in Leona, Texas and by catching them a grass snake - the best pet!

Alzheimer's affected Lorene's last years of life. Allan could not have loved her more, nor taken better care of her. He even learned to cook! They shared most of those years with Lorene being thankful for his love, help and guidance, and laughing every chance they got!
Lorene is survived by her husband Allan Smart, who she was happily married to for 62 years, daughters Vicki Evanto and her husband Tom, Jacki Evans and her husband Brian, grandchildren Kristin Evanto, Michael Evans and his wife Katie and Matthew Evans and brother Jimmy Jack Chancey and his wife Wilda. Lorene was preceded in death by her parents William and Viola Chancey, siblings Dorothy Powell, Johnnie Pilant and Billy Joe Chancey

The family will receive friends at a visitation on Sunday, April 26, 2015 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm at Allen Family Funeral Options. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at DFW National Cemetery.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to The Alzheimer's Association in Lorene's memory.