Zala Smith

A Celebration of Life for Zala Romaine Smith, 59, of Clovis, will be held at 4 oclock in the afternoon on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at the Clovis Civic Center. Zala was born in Clovis, New Mexico on July 4, 1955 to Louis Joe and Iva Gwen Williams and passed peacefully into the hands of the Lord on December 6, 2014.

Zala met and married the love of her life, Richard Dick Smith, in 1973. Married for 41 years, the two have lived in many places and traveled the world, creating enduring friendships and memories along their journey. They eventually settled back to the place where they first fell in love, Clovis, in 1999.

A graduate of Clovis High School, class of 1973, Zala then earned an Associates Degree in Business Administration with Highest Honors from Lower Columbia College, Longview, WA in 1995. Her professional affiliations include memberships with the Clovis Board of Realtors, Clovis Chamber of Commerce, and Clovis Home Builders Association. It was an honor for Zala to work diligently for 25 years as a realtor and then mortgage loan officer helping people achieve their dreams of home ownership.

Zala has contributed to the community of Clovis through her participation in a number of civic organizations which included the United Way Womens Initiative Network and serving on the Plains Regional Medical Center Community Advisory Council Committee. Zala was a founding member and patron of the Board of Directors of the Clovis Community College Cultural Arts Series. Her deep love for children led to relationships as a member of the Board of Directors of the Clovis Chapter of Big BrothersBig Sisters and the Clovis Municipal School Education Foundation. She cared deeply about social justice and was a member of the Clovis Chapter of NAACP. As testament to her work and love of the community, Zala received the 2002 Clovis Chamber of Commerce Heart Award and was a graduate of Leadership New Mexico Core Class of 2004. Zala was also a proud member PEO, Clovis Chapter.

As a child, Zala had many fond memories of Main Street which led her to the Clovis Downtown Revitalization Program. She was passionate about recreating a positive image of the area and served as president of the organization for many years. The Clovis Downtown Arts Festival and the Wine and Cheese Gala are both events to which she devoted numerous hours in order to promote downtown as a thriving part of our community once again.

All those who encountered Zala were drawn to her vibrant, magnetic personality as evidenced by the countless friendships she created throughout her life. Her enthusiasm for life was evident in the many hobbies she devoted time to. She loved flowers and gardening and was an expert seamstress who created objects of amazing beauty. Her creativity in arts and various types of home design and dcor are marvels appreciated by many. Visitors to the Smith home know that Zala was the ultimate hostess, constantly creating a welcoming house full of laughter, love, and joy. Born on July 4th, Zala was herself a true firecracker she believed that all the fireworks were in honor of her birthday. Family and friends kept the secret from her.

Zala is survived by the love of her life, Dick Smith, her mother, Iva Williams of Clovis, brother, Daniel Williams of Lubbock, Texas, wonderful goddaughter, Kelsey Fredericks and adopted godson, David Fredericks, husband of Kelsey of Roswell, New Mexico, many beloved nieces and nephews, and children of her heart.

Honorary pallbearers are family members Charles and Cass Smith, Charles and Nancy Christian, Terry Osborne, Rob and Tracie Bruce, and lifelong friends, Curt and Shannon Jackson, Linda Stevens, Linda Smith, Sindi and Darrell Davis, Cindy Johnson, Lindsay Rollins, Kenni and Kenneth Nutt, Cathy and Allan Haynes and all of the loving sisters of the Clovis Chapter of PEO.

A recipient of an organ transplant herself, another cause that was dear to Zalas heart was organ donation. In her honor, please consider registering to donate the gift of life by becoming an organ donor at www.nmdonor.com.

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