Loraine Ann Smith

Loraine Smith passed away on November 19, 2008, at the age of 74.  She was born on December 11, 1933, on a farm in Burke County, North Dakota, graduated from High School in Minot and then moved with her family to Portland, Oregon, where she earned a BA in fine arts from Marylhurst College. Always independent-minded, Loraine then moved to southern California and 1956, moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked for the U.S. Information Agency as a graphic artist. A good athlete, Loraine competed in college basketball and enjoyed ice skating. While skating she injured her knee, which led to painful rheumatoid arthritis. After recovery in Portland, she was advised to move to a drier climate, and so in 1960 she moved to Arizona, finding work and an apartment in Scottsdale.That same year she went on a blind date with Ron Smith, who became the love of her life. After a short courtship, they wed on March 3, 1962, in a small ceremony in Portland. They moved back to Phoenix and started a family; they were married for 46 years.Loraine raised three kids, plus the occasional dog, cat, hamster, fish, parakeet, tortoise and snake. A gifted artist, she painted scenes of the many locations where the family camped and in the 1970?s she found her true avocation: pottery. Eventually she started her own business, Earthen Vessels, specializing in liturgical vessels and service medallions, selling pieces nationwide.Ron and Loraine moved to Prescott in 1988, where Loraine continued to work on her pottery. Also active in parish life, she became involved at Sacred Heart Parish, where she sang in the Saturday night Mass choir and served on the Art & Environment Committee and sang alto with the Yavapai and Prescott Master Chorales for 16 years. She was also active in Quixote?s Garage, a hospitality house for the homeless.Loraine is survived by her husband Ronald; children, Julie Culhane, Alan Smith and Stephen Smith; sister Lora Lee Thomas; brothers, Leo, Lyle and Larry Remington.