Nina Marie Smith

Nina Marie Singleton Smith, 83, was called home into God’s loving arms on September 28, 2016. She died peacefully in her home, surrounded by those she loved. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Nina was the first of the late Roscoe and Mildred Singleton’s two daughters. Her younger sister, Mildred Ann, was born eleven months later, and the two were inseparable until her passing in 2014. In 1945, the singletons moved to Washington D.C., a city that would change Nina’s life. While riding a trolley with her father, Nina spotted a handsome young man. She immediately pointed him out and announced that she would marry him one day. That handsome young man happened to be Clifford V. Smith Jr., and they were devoted to each other from that moment on. Together they attended the prestigious Dunbar High School, where Nina graduated in 1950. She went on to attend nursing school at Philadelphia General Hospital and quickly became a favorite among her patients. Upon graduation, Nina and Clifford were married on August 22, 1953. She went to work as a nurse at numerous hospitals in the east and Midwest, all while raising a family of three daughters, Sharon Theresa, Debra Lynn, and Patricia Marie, as Clifford completed his graduate studies. When Clifford became Vice President of Administration at Oregon State University in 1978, the couple moved to Corvallis and instantly fell in love with both the town and the people, where any subsequent jobs would take them, it went without saying that they would retire to Corvallis Year later, when Clifford was appointed Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Nina flourished as the First Lady and was active in numerous organizations, serving on the Red Cross Board, the YWCA Board, and the University’s Nursing School Advisory Board. Nina’s winning personality, compassion for others and dazzling smile were a huge assets throughout Clifford’s career. Once it was time to retire, Nina and Clifford returned to Corvallis, and lived the life they had always imagined. Some of their favorite activities included vacationing to their homes in Tucson, Arizona and Waldport, where they had a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. When they weren’t traveling, Nina and Clifford spent much of their time at the theatre, whether it be listening to the symphony or viewing the latest performance at Keller Auditorium. Nina always spent the drive back singing along to the tunes in her beautiful soprano voice. Not only did Nina have an appreciation for music, but she also possessed a deep love for her animals. From the Collies she spent much of her life chasing throughout various neighborhoods to her daughters and granddaughters horses, Nina always treated her four-legged friends as though they too were members of the family. She also had a passion for bears, and covered her home in anything and everything grizzly. Clifford would often refer to her as “Silver Tip Grizz” because of her affection for the furry animals. When she wasn’t taking care of her family and pets, Nina loved completing crossword puzzles, collecting pocketbooks, eating Werther’s Original and See’s Nuts & Chews Candies, in addition to watching marathons of her favorite TV shows. There wasn’t an episode of “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” or “Criminal Minds” that she hadn’t seen. Nina was also an exceptional cook; her phone would constantly ring from her daughters requesting the services of “Dial-A-Cook”, a title she wore with much pride and laughter. Within the last five years, both Nina and Clifford’s health was deteriorating; so they decided to move up to Portland and into a new house with their daughter, Tricia, and youngest granddaughter, Lucy, whom Nina affectionately referred to as “Precious”. The four of them enjoyed their time together, often laughing about the number of animals running around the spacious home. Nina’s ability to draw people in with her bubbly personality and her incredible outlook on life taught us much about courage, grace, empathy, manners, and most of all, respect for all of God’s people and animals. She is survived by Clifford, her beloved husband for 63 years, daughters Sharon Jones (Collis), Debra McKee (Tom) and Tricia Pausz, grandchildren Ryan, Allision, Haley, Ben, Chris, Nicholas, “Precious” Lucy, great granddaughter Taaji, her Collie Phoebe, her Grand Newfoundlands Rosie, Tonka, Piper, grand-cat Merp, and grand-horses Malik and Adam, along with her many family and friends. She will be forever missed. A Mass will be held for Nina at 10:00 am on Friday, October 7 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 501 NW 25th St, Corvallis, followed a reception in the Upper Social Hall, and burial at Oaklawn Memorial Park, 2245 SW Whiteside Dr, Corvallis.

Tributes

Nina Marie Smith

March 1, 1933 - September 28, 2016