Lela Lee Smith

Lela Lee Smith, 98 was reunited with loved ones who have gone on before her on May 4, 2014 in Farmington NM. She was born July 6, 1915 in Eden, AZ to Claude M. Lee and Nira Palmer Lee. Lela spent her youth in Arizona towns including Thatcher, Ft. Thomas, and Mesa. She was a very good student. She was Valedictorian of her 8th grade class in Ft. Thomas. She would have been High School Valedictorian in Mesa, but they moved to Thatcher. She still had the highest GPA, but because she had not lived there for 1 full year, it was not allowed. She met and later married Elmo Dwain Smith on November 29, 1933 in the Mesa, AZ Temple. She attended the Gila Jr. College until they started their family. While living in Morenci, AZ, Elmo worked in the Copper Mine. Lela cooked for the miners and worked at the Company Store. After WWII they moved to Farmington, NM to get Elmo away from the sulfur smoke of the mine. They lived at a fruit farm on the location of the current Post Office. Lela worked as a Presser for Hutton Dry Cleaning, then with no training started keeping the company books. Oliver Ricketts taught Lela to be a typesetter and was the Circulation Manager for Hustler Press, which was sold to Lincoln O'Brian, and she became the first bookkeeper for The Farmington Daily Times. She also kept the books for their Handy Way Laundry Co. She served in many callings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including Relief Society President, MIA President, and Stake Missionary with her husband. Together they also served a mission in Nauvoo, Illinois from 1970-1972. Her greatest love was teaching. She taught Primary children, the Gospel Doctrine Sunday School class and early morning Seminary for many years. She loved learning and then sharing her knowledge and testimony of a Living Christ, and our Heavenly Father's plan for us. She is preceded in death by her husband, Elmo Dwain Smith, parents: Claude M. Lee and Nira P. Lee, brothers: Gerald Lee, Elmo James Lee, and Varis Lee, as well as her sister Anna Joy Lee, grandchildren: Garth Hamblin, David Moffett, Julie Marie Hamblin, Dwain Hamblin and Derrell Moffett. She is survived by her daughters: Nila Hamblin (Elbert) and Nedra Moffett (Gary). Her posterity includes: 20 grandchildren, 54 great grandchildren, 40 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers/Honorary Pallbearers: The Moffetts: Calvin, Robert, Rodger, Mitchell, Russell, Chris, Terrell, Jeff Claunch. The Hamblins: Mark, Michael, Darnell, Steven, Allen, Dwight James and Daniel Brown. Visitation will be at Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute on Sunday May 11, 2014 from 6:00-8:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 400 W. Apache, Farmington, NM, Monday, May 12, 2014. A Family gathering at 9:00 a.m., with services to follow at 10:00 a.m. Bishop Robert T. Bentley will conduct. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens where she will be laid to rest next to her husband Elmo. Lela's services are entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, (505) 325-8688.