Clara Rockett Neese Smith

Clara Rockett Neese Smith passed away on August 19, 2016  in Gainesville, Georgia.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 11:00 am at Lawson Cemetery in Eden, North Carolina.
She was born in Morganton, North Carolina on November 6, 1922. Her parents were Luther Theodore Rockett and Ola Mae Orders Rockett. She graduated from Morganton High School and attended secretarial school in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1942 she married Paul Van Neese, Jr. in Charlotte. The next year they moved to Columbus, Georgia where she was a member of the Town & Country Garden Club, Columbus Country Club, and The First Baptist Church. After her husband died in 1960 she worked for Gordy Construction Company for 17 years. In 1977 she married Glenn Bowers Smith and moved to West Point, Georgia where she was a member of the First United Methodist Church, an investment club and Riverside Country Club. 
She is survived by her two children Peggy Neese Carlson (and husband John) of Blowing Rock, North Carolina and Paul Van Neese III (and wife Patti) of Gainesville, Georgia. She is also survived by two step-children Marian Smith Long of Stone Mountain, Georgia and Harry Glenn Smith of Marietta, Georgia. She is survived four grandchildren John Dennis Carlson, Jr. (and wife Paula) of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Justin Paul Carlson (and wife Sandy) of Charlotte, North Carolina, Paul Van Neese IV and Helen Nicole Neese of Gainesville, Georgia. Her step-grandchildren are Alicia Glenn Long, Joanna Long Bell, Abby Smith Forness, Michael Glenn Smith and Karen Elizabeth Smith. Three great grandchildren and four step-great grandchildren.
Besides her parents she is preceded in death by her husbands Paul Van Neese, Jr. and Glenn Bowers Smith. Four sisters and one brother preceded her Wilhelmina Rockett Anderson, Iris Rockett Maye, Mable Rockett, Katherine Rockett Head and James Theodore Rockett.
 In lieu of flowers the family wishes contributions be made to the St. Mary of the Hills Charitable Trust at P.O. Box 14, Blowing Rock, N. C. 28605.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com.