Laverne Smith

Adna LaVerne Saylor Smith passed away into the arms of her heavenly father on August 16, 2016. She was born on August 24, 1929 to Alice Myrl Miller Saylor and John Adna Saylor Jr., in Clovis, New Mexico. LaVerne's father died before she was born, and her mother later married Forrest Wade. The two of them provided a loving family for LaVerne and her brother Charles, who proceeded her in death. LaVerne attended Hardin-Simmons University where she fell in love with Rex Smith, who she knew from their hometown of Clovis. The two married in 1949.

In 1959, LaVerne and Rex moved to Roswell to found the Colony House, a Roswell landmark for more than 50 years. There, LaVerne served many clients with her interior design skills. Many of her clients returned to LaVerne for decorating assistance, even after moving away from Roswell.

LaVerne loved dollhouses and miniatures. She was one of the founders of Los Pocos Locos, a local miniatures club, where she was known for always being available to help other members with their miniature design problems. One of LaVerne's joys was having an adobe dollhouse which she designed and furnished and which became the subject of a book, authored by MaryLou Smith, and published by New Mexico Magazine-Grandmother's Adobe Dollhouse.

An active member of First Baptist Church, LaVerne taught primary students in her early Roswell years. She later played a key role, with Rex, in restoring and re-purposing stained glass windows that had been stored away when the church moved to its new building. LaVerne and her dear friend Hannah Ginsberg orchestrated the church's 100th year anniversary celebration.

Well-known as a local business woman, LaVerne served on the board of directors of Security National Bank of Roswell. She was the first woman to serve in that position in the bank's history. She was also a member of PEO, Morning Garden Club, and Junior Book Club.
LaVerne is survived by her husband, Rex Smith, and by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Stephen and MaryLou Mohon Smith of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Charles and Julie Shackelford Smith of Mount Pleasant, Texas. LaVerne and Rex have two grandchildren, Laurel Smith of Fort Collins, and Matthew Smith of Greenville, South Carolina. Matthew and his wife Amy Hall Smith are parents of LaVerne and Rex's three great grandchildren-Brighton, Levi, and Lucy.

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