Sue Clawson Smith
Sue Smith Obituary
On August 24, 2021 our sweet angel mother was welcomed back to the loving arms of her husband Gene and family on the other side of the veil. She blessed the lives of so many with her cheerful countenance, kind and gentle heart, sense of humor and bright smile even as she battled Alzheimer’s disease over the last 12 years. Sue Louise Clawson was born on February 3, 1934 in Salt Lake City to Thomas A. Clawson, Jr. MD and Ruth Jensen Clawson. Mom was very outgoing and social. As a young woman she was the president of the Girls Association at West High School and later a member of Chi Omega Sorority at the University of Utah where she studied and excelled in fine art, and skied on the university ski team until a broken leg ended her downhill aspirations. Mom’s love for skiing continued with her family as she taught her husband and children how to ski and develop a love for snow and winter sports. Following her graduation from the U, she worked as an interior designer at Bennet’s Paint and Glass. Mom had a beautiful voice and was blessed to sing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir with her sister Pat, sister-in law Tonia, and her parents as they toured the Eastern US and Europe via steam ship. One of the many legacies passed on to her family is a love of music, art and road trips.
Sue was briefly one of the most eligible bachelorettes in the Salt Lake Valley until she was introduced to a handsome young orthopedic intern at LDS hospital. Mom married Gene Richard Smith in the Salt Lake Temple on June 10, 1959. She supported dad throughout his medical career including the grueling years of residency in Oklahoma City where Heidi and Matthew were born. In 1962 they moved to the beautiful metropolis of Farmington, New Mexico where dad established a private orthopedic practice and Curtis and David were born. Mom was strong and independent, raising four young children during a time when dad was the only orthopedic surgeon in the entire Four Corners Area of the United States and heavily committed to civic duties. Though happy in New Mexico, her heart was in the Wasatch Mountains she loved so dearly and in 1971 they moved their family to Bountiful, Utah. Over the next 17 years mom and dad raised their family and mom served in several church callings including the Young Women’s General Board with her daughter Heidi. Mom loved serving the Lord and magnified every calling. In 1986 mom and dad moved to San Antonio, Texas where she continued to brighten the lives of all she encountered. From 2002-04 she served a mission with dad in Nauvoo, IL where mom assisted dad in running the medical clinic for missionaries in the region.
Mom also loved sports and the outdoors, never more so than when we were enjoying them together as a family. From Jeep safaris in Moab to camping in Jackson Hole or Capital Reef, she loved the beauty of the earth and its creations, another legacy passed on to her children and grandchildren. Her example of love of animals and God’s creations was exceeded only by her love of God, her fellow man and her family, which often consisted of numerous ‘adopted’ brothers, cousins and children. Mom was an exemplary and active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved the Savior and His gospel and was a veracious student of the scriptures - there wasn’t a page in her scriptures that was not marked with layers of highlights and notes. One of her favorite words of wisdom was “You cannot stand on borrowed light.” Her example of charity and forgiveness with a heart devoid of guile was and continues to be the standard for her family to follow, even as she endured the disease that ended her time on earth. We love you mom! It’s up to us now.
She is preceded in death by her husband Gene, mother Ruth (Mimi), father Thomas (Poppy), sister Patricia Clawson Jackson, and brother Jay E. Jensen. She is survived by a sister-in-law Tonia (Jay), and children: Heidi (Scott) Sowards, Matthew (Heather), Curtis (Sara), David (Mindy), 12 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at 12:00 Noon at the LDS Chapel located at 5848 West 11000 North, Highland Utah 84003 with an open house from 1:30 – 4:30 PM at the home of Matthew Smith in Highland, Utah. A small graveside service will precede the funeral at 10:00 AM at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Detailed information and online condolences can be found at: www.HolbrookMortuary.com