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Citizen Telegram Obituaries – Dec. 26, 2013

John Robert White

Sept. 14, 1930 – Dec. 19, 2013

John Robert White passed away Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013. He was born Sept. 14, 1930, to Mary Agnes and John Henry White in Pope County, Ark.



John married the love of his life, Dixie Lee Allen, on Oct. 10, 1964, in Rifle, Colo. They had three children. He served in the National Guard.

John is survived by his wife, Dixie, and their children, Andrew, Cheri and Jackie; as well as many other relatives.



Services will be held at Rifle Funeral Home at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. Viewing will be at 12:30 p.m. Interment at Skyline Cemetery in Silt, Colo.

Cora Ann Smith

Sept. 20, 1941 – Dec. 13, 2013

Cora was born to Perry Wilburn and Zella Mae (Beatty) Long on Sept. 20, 1941, in Rifle, Colo. Cora Ann had two older brothers, Ralph and Walter.

Zella moved her family to Loveland while Ralph, and later Walter, attended college at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins. Later, her mother moved Cora to Grand Junction, where she attended Central High School, graduating in 1959.

Ralph, having joined the Tucson Air National Guard as a fighter pilot, died tragically in a plane crash. Cora moved back to Grand Junction to be with her mother and attended a semester at Mesa College.

Cora met B. Douglas Smith (grandson of C.D. Smith) and Doug’s sense of humor and robust personality quickly won her over. They married June 18, 1961 and moved to Phoenix and then Scottsdale, Ariz. They had two children, Darcia and Loren.

The church has been a huge part of Cora’s life. She was active in the leadership as a deacon and a Stephen minister, and delivered flowers, good cheer and a listening ear to all those in need. Cora’s kind heart, strong faith, bright smile and warm hugs will be missed. After a brief battle in the last stage of pancreatic cancer, Cora Ann joined our Lord on Dec. 13, 2013. Well done good and faithful servant. Our loss is heaven’s gain.

Cora is preceded in death by her brother, Ralph E. Long (1960); mother, Zella Mae Callaway (1992); husband (and Shrine clown), B. Douglas Smith (2007).

Surviving family members include her brother, Walter (Eilene) Long of Aurora, Colo.; her daughter, Darcia Stebbens of Santa Barbara, Calif.; her son, Loren (Robin) Smith of Glendale, Ariz.; grandchildren, Nick and Daniel Stebbens and Megan Smith; nephew, Lance Long; niece, Melanie (Eric) Ecker; and grand-nephews, Landon and Logan Ecker.

A memorial service was held at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, 34605 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Ariz., 85262. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Desert Hills Presbyterian Church’s Deacon

Care Fund referencing “Cora Smith” in the memo.


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