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Funeral services for LaFerne “Fern” Smith, age 77, will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, April 13, 2009 in the Hart Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Tom Tucker, Reverend John O'Leary and Reverend Clint Collins officiating. Interment will follow at Tahlequah City Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to the care of Hart Funeral Home of Tahlequah.
LaFerne Holloway Smith was born in Stilwell, OK on August 8, 1931, the daughter of Robert Clay Holloway and Grace Holloway.
Ferne graduated from Cave Springs High School in Stilwell in 1947. On August 21, 1948, she married Earl E. “Moe” Smith in Tahlequah, OK. Together, they raised three children.
Ferne went on to attend Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor's of Science in Education, and in 1969 with a Master's in Education.
She then went to work for NSU, serving for 31 years before retiring in 1993. After retirement, Ferne continued to work part-time in the NSU business office and the Athletics Ticket Office.
Ferne was active in her community, serving as an inspector for the election board, as a member of the Oklahoma Education Association, the Retired Educators, a lifetime member of the NSU Alumni Association, the American Legion-DAV Auxiliary, the VFW Auxiliary, the Tahlequah City Hospital Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary and RSVP.
She was honored with the NSU Alumni Citation of Merit Award, the AAUW Outstanding Service Award, the Rho Theta Honor Society, and the Athletic Hall of Fame. Ferne was also one of the 100 NSU Centennial Award recipients. When asked how she would like to be remembered, Ferne said, “I want to be remembered that I served all in the best way I knew, with love and concern for all. Maybe I didn't leave the woodpile a little higher financially, but through toil and service the wood was made to burn longer.” She was of the Christian faith and a member of the First Christian Church of Tahlequah.
LaFerne Smith went home to her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 in Muskogee, OK, with her loved ones at her side. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl E. Smith in 2006; by her brothers, Cornelius E. Holloway, Cecil C. Holloway, and Howard E. Holloway; and by her sisters, Mary Lee Cloud and Bonita Patterson.
Ferne's memory will be cherished by her survivors: Her son, Earl E. Smith Jr. and wife Trish, of Tahlequah, her daughter Terri Lynn Webb and husband, Dr. Robert D. Webb of Tahlequah; her stepdaughter, Barbara Oakley and husband Nick of Monument, CO; her sisters, Ruby Hatfield of Tahlequah, and Reba Herron of Tulsa, OK; her grandchildren, Mark David Smith and wife Sharla of Tahlequah, OK, Amy Dowd and Husband Ron of Lakewood, CO, Michele Panter and husband Dr. Kyle Panter of Broken Arrow, OK, Kimberly Dawn Thorpe and husband Dr. Richard Thorpe of Kellor, TX, Robby Webb IV and Bradley Alexander Webb, both of Norman, OK, Justin Robert Smith and Kaitlyn Marie Smith, both of Tahlequah; her step grandchildren, Bruce Alex Oakley and wife Misty of Eagle Nest, AK, Angela Oakley of Denver, CO, Tyler Hix, Rusty Creesan, Amber Hix, Lindsey Hix and Seth Hix; as well as many other family members, friends and loved ones. The family requests that those wishing to send an expression of sympathy consider making a donation to the LaFerne Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o the Northeastern State University Foundation, 812 Cedar Ave, Tahlequah, OK 74464, 918-444-2900.
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