Flora Smith

Services are scheduled at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 8, at Trinity Temple Assembly of God for Flora Melissa Smith, 1601 W. Centre Ave., Artesia, New Mexico.

Mrs. Smith, 88, died Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at her home.

Pastor Bobby Argo will officiate at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Gary Ward, Dusty Young, Rusty Young, Brook Navarrette, Kayla Dominguez, Johnathon Dominguez, Dallas Smith, Amber Smith, Jeremy Navarrette, Quintin Navarrette, Kenneth Cates, Angie Young, Iesha Lyle, and Ramia Smith. All other grandchildren will be honorary pallbearers.

Visitation will be at Terpening Son Mortuary beginning at 12 p.m. Friday.

Flora was born October 13, 1923 in Mountainburg, Arkansas the daughter of William Riley Dollard and Delphia Gertrude Teague Dollard. She came to Artesia in 1968 from Arkansas.

On March 1, 1966 she was married to Alvy Curly Smith Jr. in Stillwater, Okla.. He preceded her in death August 1, 2001.


She was a housewife and a member of Trinity Temple Assembly of God. She owned and operated three restaurants in Artesia including Tommys Burger Shack, Flos Hamburgers, and the Arrow Cafe, and was the originator of the Curly Burger.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a son Herschel Reese, 7 brothers, 2 sisters, and 2 sonsinlaw Willis Ward and Tony Ward.

Survivors include sons Gary Smith and wife Janie of Artesia, and Rodney Smith and wife Cyndi of Chadds Ford, Penn. daughters Gloria Lairamore and husband Ronald of Hindsville,Georgia, Delpha Ward of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, Sara Cates and husband Julian of Santan Valley, Arizona, Brenda Ward of Lubbock, Texa,s Frances Young and husband Bill of Artesia, NM, Melissa Navarrette and husband Alfredo of Artesia, and Stella Dominguez and husband Michael of Springfield, Missouri brother Jess Dollard of Ft. Smith, Arkansas sister Stell Lyons of Mountainburg, Arkansas 25 grandchildren, 44 greatgrandchildren, and 3 greatgreatgrandchildren.