Clara Mae (Jordan) Smith was born January 17, 1930, in Atoka County, Okla., to John William Newton (Newt) Jordan and Cora Belle (Reliford) Jordan. She married Sylvester Smith on March 3, 1948 and they raised three children, Charlie Wayne, Kathie Arleen and William Earl. When she was very young, she was given the nickname Corkie. She left this world for the next on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at her home in Jumbo, Okla.
The Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, Corkie raised her family attending McGee Valley Baptist Church for more than 60 years. She was a meticulous seamstress making clothes, quilts, sheets, pillows, baby dolls, cloth books and more for her family. She was a long-time member of the Daisy Quilting Club, stitching fabric over stories into quilts and memories, for her own family and the families of her friends for many years. She was a lover of photos, poems, people and music. She rarely missed a church or community singing or a chance to listen to her family sing and play music. Her home was a welcoming place where no one was left out or left hungry. You rarely left her presence without hearing “come back as soon as you can.”
She is survived by one brother, Leonard Jordan, and one sister-in-law, Norma Mae (Smith) Vaughan; three children and spouses: Charlie and Anna Smith, Kathie and Ray Kindred and Earl and Gail Smith; 13 grandchildren and spouses: Jenny and Chad Hale, Trisha and Rick Milner, Terry and Brandy Smith, Justin and Marcie Smith, Rebecca and Bryan McDonald, Karen Smith and Jerimy Blackburn, Daniel Smith, James Kindred, Michael and Erin Smith, Andrea and Joe Maxey, Travis and Veronica Jackson, Angela and Dan Bauer and Andrea (Sissy) Diehl; 33 great-grandchildren and 21 great-great-grandchildren.
Jenny’s family – Taylor and Jessica Martinez Fox and daughter Mallory Mae; Devin Fox and son Owen; Brady Fox and daughter Xaila; and Jastiny Hale.
Trisha’s family –Jarrod Milner, Shakinna Milner and sons Jackson and Cooper; Kolby and Brittany Milner and sons Hayz’n, Brys’n and daughter Rayleigh; Wesley Milner and son Wyatt, and Megan Milner.
Terry’s family – Samuel Smith and Rachel Smith
Justin’s family – Kristen Hobbs and children, Brylie, Blake, Kenlynn and Bryer; Kylie Hobbs and Braxtin Smith
Rebecca’s family – Meaghan McDonald, Lilly McDonald, Lillian Hargrave and Calleigh Hargrave
Karen’s family – Charlotte Heldermon and Katie Heldermon
Daniel’s family – Alexia Smith, Aley Smith and Abby Smith
Michael’s family – McCade Smith and Tana Smith
Andrea’s family – Crey and Morgan Maxey and sons Preston and Conan; Justin and Jurnee Maxey and children Amirah, Isaac, Zahra and Kashton; Caleb Smithart
Travis’s family – Amelia Jackson and Trevor Jackson
Angela’s family – Bethany Rucker and sons Noah and Ryan; Brenton and Kaylee Rucker and daughters Adalynn and Berklee
Andrea (Sissy’s) family – Samantha Diehl
Additionally she is survived by several generations of nieces and nephews and scores of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John (Newt) and Cora Jordan; her husband, Sylvester Smith and his parents Charlie and Willie Mae (Tomlinson) Smith; sisters, Eava Minton Skidmore, Zelma Minton McKown Smith and Millie Minton Robinson; brothers Ralph Minton, Johnny Minton, Calvin Minton, Billie Minton and Paul Jordan; brother-in-law Clinton Smith; great-grandchildren, Terry’s son – Isaac Smith and Travis’s infant daughter Katrina Jackson.
A service in her honor will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at the McGee Valley Baptist Church in Daisy, Okla.
Arrangements under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Home.
