Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Patricia Clayton Smith passed away peacefully at her home in The Dalles, Ore., on Jan. 28, 2019, at the age of 78.
Patricia was well known in The Dalles, her lifelong home. She married and raised two children here, restored one of the community’s most cherished historic homes and taught many local residents how to play piano.
On April 20, 1940, Bert and Grace Clayton welcomed daughter Patricia into this world. She grew up with two older sisters and a brother.
While at The Dalles High School, one of Patricia’s friends set her up on a blind date. The young serviceman who picked her up in his father’s shiny new Pontiac was Don Smith. Through the coming years as Patricia graduated high school in 1958 and then studied at the University of Oregon, she exchanged many letters with Don while he served in Okinawa, Korea and Florida. After Don left the military, the two married on Oct. 8, 1961, at the old St. Paul’s Chapel on Union Street.
Patricia worked as a medical transcriptionist for 30 years, much of that time at The Dalles Clinic. She raised two children, pursued many hobbies and volunteered extensively in the community. Patricia enjoyed sewing quilts and doing embroidery in her free time. She pursued her love of music by teaching piano, singing with the Sweet Adeline’s and playing organ for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. She volunteered with Soroptimist International and served as a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. She attained certification as a Master Recycler. Patricia and Don also went on cruises to the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska and the Mississippi River aboard a sternwheeler.
In 1978, Patricia and Don purchased a historic home on the cliff above downtown The Dalles and moved there with their son and daughter. Patricia was instrumental in getting the Crosby Taylor Smith House listed on The Dalles Historic Resource Inventory. The family remodeled the home to its original Craftsman beauty. Later, Patricia served on The Dalles Historic Landmarks Commission, helping preserve other historic buildings and cultural sites within our community.
Patricia is survived by her husband, Don Smith, of The Dalles; her son Sander Smith and daughter Adele Edwards, who live in Portland with their spouses; her brother Gilbert Clayton, who lives with his wife in The Dalles; granddaughter Bailey Smith, of Portland; and the close family friend Patricia called her “bonus daughter,” Robin Campbell Cady, who lives with her husband in The Dalles.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the International Essential Tremor Foundation: https:// www.essentialtremor.org/donate/ or PO Box 14005, Lenexa, KS, 66285.
A celebration of Patricia’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24, at The Dalles Elks Lodge, 2620 W. 2nd St. in The Dalles, Oregon.
