Dr. Coleman R. Smith, 86, passed away March 30, 2012, after a long illness. He was born on a farm near Canadian, Okla., to Fulton Ochelata and Ora Mittie Smith on October 5, 1925, and enjoyed a lifelong love of music.
After graduating high school, he studied music education at Tulsa University and Oklahoma A&M College and earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1949. He completed his Masters degree in Music Education at the University of Oklahoma in 1955 and joined the faculty at Central State College in Edmond, where he organized the Men's Glee Club and Old North Belles Sextet which became the nucleus for the Central 75 Show. He completed his Doctorate of Music Education degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, at which time he was also teaching vocal music methods, choral arranging and conducting, University Choir and graduate classes at night and during summer sessions. He continued to write and arrange vocal music for every group he directed, including the CSU Tunesmiths,and instilled in his students his love for music and teaching.
In the 1960's, he was also the music minister at First Baptist Church in Edmond and Henderson Hills Baptist. He and June joined the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City in 1978, where he was active in all areas of music including interim choir director. He retired in 1987, after teaching 12 years in public schools and 26 years at CSU. Dr. Smith continued to be active in music as adjudicator, composer and arranger. In 1990, his original musical show, "The First Territorial Saloon" was first performed by Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife, June.
He is survived by his wife, June; his daughter Cathie and her husband Jim Denton, his granddaughter, Abby Bruce and her husband, Adam, and his sister Margaret Ann Sizemore.
Public visitation will be held from 8 a.m - 9 p.m. Thursday, April 5, 2012 at Matthews Funeral Home. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday, April 6, at the Louise Prichard Chapel, First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. Services are under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Music Ministry of the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. The family is grateful for the support of their church family, and also that of Carter Hospice.
After graduating high school, he studied music education at Tulsa University and Oklahoma A&M College and earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1949. He completed his Masters degree in Music Education at the University of Oklahoma in 1955 and joined the faculty at Central State College in Edmond, where he organized the Men's Glee Club and Old North Belles Sextet which became the nucleus for the Central 75 Show. He completed his Doctorate of Music Education degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, at which time he was also teaching vocal music methods, choral arranging and conducting, University Choir and graduate classes at night and during summer sessions. He continued to write and arrange vocal music for every group he directed, including the CSU Tunesmiths,and instilled in his students his love for music and teaching.
In the 1960's, he was also the music minister at First Baptist Church in Edmond and Henderson Hills Baptist. He and June joined the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City in 1978, where he was active in all areas of music including interim choir director. He retired in 1987, after teaching 12 years in public schools and 26 years at CSU. Dr. Smith continued to be active in music as adjudicator, composer and arranger. In 1990, his original musical show, "The First Territorial Saloon" was first performed by Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife, June.
He is survived by his wife, June; his daughter Cathie and her husband Jim Denton, his granddaughter, Abby Bruce and her husband, Adam, and his sister Margaret Ann Sizemore.
Public visitation will be held from 8 a.m - 9 p.m. Thursday, April 5, 2012 at Matthews Funeral Home. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday, April 6, at the Louise Prichard Chapel, First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. Services are under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Music Ministry of the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. The family is grateful for the support of their church family, and also that of Carter Hospice.
Dr. Coleman R. Smith, 86, passed away March 30, 2012, after a long illness. He was born on a farm near Canadian, Okla., to Fulton Ochelata and Ora Mittie Smith on October 5, 1925, and enjoyed a lifelong love of music.
After graduating high school, he studied music education at Tulsa University and Oklahoma A&M College and earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1949. He completed his Masters degree in Music Education at the University of Oklahoma in 1955 and joined the faculty at Central State College in Edmond, where he organized the Men's Glee Club and Old North Belles Sextet which became the nucleus for the Central 75 Show. He completed his Doctorate of Music Education degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, at which time he was also teaching vocal music methods, choral arranging and conducting, University Choir and graduate classes at night and during summer sessions. He continued to write and arrange vocal music for every group he directed, including the CSU Tunesmiths,and instilled in his students his love for music and teaching.
In the 1960's, he was also the music minister at First Baptist Church in Edmond and Henderson Hills Baptist. He and June joined the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City in 1978, where he was active in all areas of music including interim choir director. He retired in 1987, after teaching 12 years in public schools and 26 years at CSU. Dr. Smith continued to be active in music as adjudicator, composer and arranger. In 1990, his original musical show, "The First Territorial Saloon" was first performed by Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife, June.
He is survived by his wife, June; his daughter Cathie and her husband Jim Denton, his granddaughter, Abby Bruce and her husband, Adam, and his sister Margaret Ann Sizemore.
Public visitation will be held from 8 a.m - 9 p.m. Thursday, April 5, 2012 at Matthews Funeral Home. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday, April 6, at the Louise Prichard Chapel, First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. Services are under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Music Ministry of the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. The family is grateful for the support of their church family, and also that of Carter Hospice.
After graduating high school, he studied music education at Tulsa University and Oklahoma A&M College and earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1949. He completed his Masters degree in Music Education at the University of Oklahoma in 1955 and joined the faculty at Central State College in Edmond, where he organized the Men's Glee Club and Old North Belles Sextet which became the nucleus for the Central 75 Show. He completed his Doctorate of Music Education degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, at which time he was also teaching vocal music methods, choral arranging and conducting, University Choir and graduate classes at night and during summer sessions. He continued to write and arrange vocal music for every group he directed, including the CSU Tunesmiths,and instilled in his students his love for music and teaching.
In the 1960's, he was also the music minister at First Baptist Church in Edmond and Henderson Hills Baptist. He and June joined the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City in 1978, where he was active in all areas of music including interim choir director. He retired in 1987, after teaching 12 years in public schools and 26 years at CSU. Dr. Smith continued to be active in music as adjudicator, composer and arranger. In 1990, his original musical show, "The First Territorial Saloon" was first performed by Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife, June.
He is survived by his wife, June; his daughter Cathie and her husband Jim Denton, his granddaughter, Abby Bruce and her husband, Adam, and his sister Margaret Ann Sizemore.
Public visitation will be held from 8 a.m - 9 p.m. Thursday, April 5, 2012 at Matthews Funeral Home. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday, April 6, at the Louise Prichard Chapel, First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. Services are under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Music Ministry of the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. The family is grateful for the support of their church family, and also that of Carter Hospice.
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