A celebration of life for Claire Smith, a 33-year resident of Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley, who died October 25, will be held at 1 p.m. this Saturday, November 17, at Valley Community Chapel in Yucca Valley.
Smith was 90 years old and is survived by children Bill Smith Jr. of Texas, Priscilla Harrison of Joshua Tree, Gary Daigneault of Twentynine Palms, Cynthia Kraemer and Pam Fields of Yucca Valley; and a sister, Gail Watson in Massachusetts. She had 17 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.
Smith published Hi-Desert Magazine locally, and as the president of the homeowners association, led the effort for funding the Panorama Heights fire station. She was active with the Joshua Tree Chamber of commerce and served for years with the Hi-Desert Medical Center Foundation where she was instrumental in setting up its nursing scholarship program.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Copper Mountain College Foundation for the nursing program or Theatre 29 in the name of Claire Smith.
