Patricia Clapp Smith, a longtime resident of Beaumont and Calder Woods, died Thursday, November 29, 2012, at the age of 88. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 30, 1923, to Gladys Pratt Clapp and Kenneth Smith Clapp, where she lived until she went away to Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hamshire.
Patricia was a wonderful and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, daughter, and sister. She had a great love and pride for her entire family and faced each day with strength, a smile, and love in her heart. Patricia was well loved by all and will be sorely missed. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Matthew P. Smith. They celebrated their 64th anniversary prior to his death in 2009. They met and fell in love at his college of Dartmouth. After graduating they moved to Beaumont where Mat worked at Exxon Mobil until he retired. During the course of their marriage they also lived in Boston, Louisville, and High Point, North Carolina. Together they traveled extensively and played bridge often.
She taught in the Special Education Department for Beaumont Independent School District after obtaining her master’s degree from Lamar University.
She and her local family were longtime members of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. The church had a great influence on her life where she served on the Altar Guild for many years.
Patricia was very thoughtful and put the needs of others before her own. She often volunteered to help organizations and individuals in many unheralded ways. She volunteered at St. Elizabeth and Meals on Wheels.
She was also preceded in death by her three younger siblings, Mary Hutchings, Sally Dearing, and Kenneth P. Clapp.
Survivors include her children, Carol Calhoun and her husband, Jack; Peter Smith and his wife, Patricia; and Deborah Snyder and her husband, Dennis; grandchildren, David Luke, Kristen Cahoon and her husband Dann, Christopher Jamison and his wife, Carey; and Matthew Smith; great-grandchildren, Gabe, T.J., Alice, Will, and Whitney; and many nieces and nephews.
The family would also like to acknowledge with much love, her best friends and helpers, Sharon Bossette, Mary Richard, Bertie Reese, Elaine Finley, and Cherry Robinson.
A private family celebration of her life was held at Magnolia Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice in the memory of Patricia.
