
Our Father in Heaven opened His arms to receive Adora G. Smithen on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 101. Adora was born on February 16, 1917 in Cayuga, Texas to James Lawrence Godley and Willie Lou (Daniel) Godley.
Adora was a devoted wife and mother. She cherished her family and homelife above all else. She was a woman of strong Christian faith and fiercely loved America. Adora had many creative talents. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, crocheting and oil canvas painting. She volunteered her time with the Tulsa Library Literacy program and served as a Gillie for Gilcrease Museum. Adora was a member of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church for many years.
Adora was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Port Van (P.V.) Smithen, Sr.; her son, Port Van Smithen, Jr.; her sister, Dorothy McDaniel; and her brother, James Lawrence Godley, Jr. She is survived by her children: Phillip Smithen of Tulsa, OK; Jeanette Griffith (Calvin) of Tulsa, OK; and Marc Smithen (Laurie) of Oklahoma City, OK; 4 sisters: Johnye Williams of Grand Prairie, TX; Willie Gunselman of Broken Arrow, OK; Mary Little of Littleton, CO and Betty Jackson of Winston-Salem, NC; 6 grandchildren: Jandra Smithen, Kirstyn Jones, Michelle Van Schenck, Daniel Griffith, Benjamin Smithen and Jennifer Samples and 6 great-grandchildren: Riley Jones, Ragen Jones, Hudson Griffith, Corbin Griffith, Haley Smithen and Peyton Samples.
The family will receive friends 5-7:00 p.m. Monday at Ninde Brookside Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel in Tulsa, OK. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Saint Simeon’s Episcopal Home Foundation or Gilcrease Museum.
I send my sincere condolences to the family of Aunt Adora Smithen. My father was PV Smithen's brother. We lived in California. We did not have close relationship because of the great distance. I did get to see her one time when traveling from Navel Training School in Tenn. to home in 1966. We saw her son's in California when they working in the San Diego area. They drove up from southern Ca. for a short visit. (in the 1950's) That is all that I remember from my past. She lived a good life (102) Richard Smithen, Ret. Fire Chief, Cal-Fire
Richard Smithen