Wife, mom, sister, aunt, friend, vocalist, actress, pianist, organist, poet, philosopher, party thrower, real estate agent, businesswoman, interior designer, seamstress, house flipper of 20+ homes, world traveler, and general all-around renaissance woman Carol Rae Richards Smith passed away of natural causes two months shy of her 90th birthday on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mom was born December 30, 1930, in Salt Lake City, the first child of four born to a lawyer and naval chaplain Glen Y. and loving mom and schoolteacher Alberta R. Richards. Carol was a big sister to twins Diane Sonntag and Joan Horton, and brother Robert Reeve Richards.
In 1940 at the age of 10, Carol took a trip to California to visit relatives, a trip that set her life in motion to eventually be a Californian the majority of her life. She graduated from Salt Lake’s West High in 1948, and after attending one semester at the University of Utah, at the age of 19 she moved to sunny southern California. After having a lot of fun dating many young men, Mom married our future Dad Richard Horne Smith on November 28, 1951, in the Salt Lake City temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Setting down roots in the Los Angeles area, Mom and Dad lovingly raised four boys and two girls, Steven Richards Smith, Richard Spencer Smith, Cynthia Lynne Smith Davis, Stanford Reeve Smith (Chip), Brian Horne Smith, and Shauna Marie Smith Vladimiroff.
Her family has grown to include 14 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
A family service will be held on November 5, 2020, following which she will be buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Funeral Directors, Larkin Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Elevation Hospice (sagehospice.org/donate), whose loving support for the last two and a half years we could not have done without.
Your mother was a beautiful lady! I remember many occasions interacting with her and she always seemed to radiate a vivacious and happy disposition. Her spunk and cheerfulness, her interest in another's life, made being around her a delight. I am confident she leaves a legacy of such character amongst her children and you honor her with the kindness I feel when in your presence. I hope your family gathering brings a strength and peace such a time deserves. Hugs to each of you.
