Class of 1943

1943 Graduation Edition
Perry Daily Journal

Carolyn Rae Ball is serving as treasurer of the 1943 senior class of Perry high school with which she is graduating next week. The daughter of Mrs. C. A. Ball, 1116 Delaware, she has attended PHS four years.

Carolyn Rae was born in Tulsa 17 years ago, but she has lived in this city 13 years. She attended Perry elementary school.

Serving as recorder of Rainbow Girls, parliamentarian of the student council, member of both her junior and senior play casts, and of the high school band. Carolyn has had a busy life at PHS. She played in the massed band at Enid three years and last year as a soloist received the rating of excellent. Her plans for the coming months include college.

Carolyn Rae (Ball) Smith

October 27, 1925 – November 2, 2015

Carolyn Rae Smith passed away on November 2, 2015, at the age of 90 in Lake Forest, California.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on October 27, 1925, she was the daughter of Carl and Ruth Ball. Her father Carl died when she was still a teenager. While attending Perry high school, she was a member of the National Honor society. Following her graduation 1943, she attended Phillips University in Enid for a semester and accepted employment with Southwestern Bell Telephone in Perry.

On April 12, 1944, in Salt Lake City, Utah, she and fellow classmate, Pvt. Harry Alan Smith, were married. She returned to Perry to make her home while Harry completed his military service. In January, 1946, he was discharged and took over management of the Roxy Theater.

The couple moved to Graford, Texas, in 1947, where Harry worked at a theater with his father. Later that year, they moved to Odessa, Texas. The couple were blessed with a son and a daughter. In 1957 the family moved to Torrance, California, to pursue opportunity for work in the aerospace industry. She and Harry were divorced in 1975. Carolyn lived in Torrence until 2007 when she moved to Freedom Village.

She was an executive secretary at Hughes Aircraft and worked there for over 25 years until her retirement.

Carolyn enjoyed travel and was able to visit Hawaii, Canada, and Tahiti as well as road trips to Yellowstone Park and other iconic American destinations. She loved football and had season tickets for the Rams while they were in Los Angeles.

She grew fruit in her backyard and tried her hand at Bonsai trees. She was a great home cook, and turned out wonderful pies, cakes, and candy for her family. She also loved to sew and made her own clothes as well as some fun Halloween costumes for the grandchildren.

Carolyn was part of the “Greatest Generation.” She lived thru the Depression as well as WWII. Carolyn was able to use her life experiences to become a strong woman and a loving presence for her family.

Preceding her in death was her son, Forrest Carl Smith, in 1996.

Survivors include: her daughter, Alana Yerrick (husband William Yerrick); six grandchildren, Christina Blair (husband Casey Scheirer), Lydia Yerrick (husband Mat Powell), Laura Yerrick (husband Alex Badham), Travis Smith (wife Sandy Watson), Molly Smith (husband Cody Halkola), and Camille Smith; five great grandchildren, Ford Blair, Caleb Scheirer, Katelyn Smith, Carl Smith and Oliver Halkola.

A Memorial service will be held at McCormick and Son Mortuary, 25000 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills, California, 92653 on November 22, 2015, at 11:00 AM.