Lee R. Smith

Lee Rosebelle Smith (Clarkson, Leoni, Clark), age 104, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday morning, February 19, 2025.

Lee was born on August 15, 1920, in San Pedro, California, and spent her formative years in El Paso, Texas. In 1935, she married Mario Leoni and together they were blessed with two sons: Mario Jr., born in 1936, and Johnn Michael, born in 1949.

Lee was an ambitious woman. In 1944, she graduated from the International Business College in El Paso and later attended Tri-State Beauty College, becoming a skilled beautician. 

She was best known as the owner and manager of the Airport Beauty Salon on Airport Road and Clarkson’s Chelmont House for Beauty on Montana Avenue. From the early 1950s through the mid-1970s, she built a reputation for excellence, retaining the best hairdressers in El Paso and earning the loyalty of many customers. She was a hands-on owner, doing everything from managing the front desk to providing manicures. Always ready with a big smile, she took joy in engaging with her customers, often offering them a complimentary coffee or a bottle of Coke.

In 1960, Lee married Wally, “that handsome man in a sports car.” Together, they welcomed their son Robert in 1961. Their beloved daughter Renee, whom she referred to as "her precious little girl," was born in 1962. Their home on Timberwolf Drive was always filled with life—social events, two young children, a teenage son Johnny, and frequent visits from both Lee’s and Wally’s grandchildren.

After retiring from the beauty business, Lee remained steadfast in her faith, often saying, “God has been so good to us.” Even in difficult times, such as Renee’s accident in 1974 and Wally’s passing in 1978, she trusted in Jesus.

In 1985, Lee married her angel and “a good dancer,” Colonel Clint Smith. Together, they attended and served at Fort Bliss Chapel #2, Saint Michael Catholic Community. Their 22 years together were a gift filled with love, companionship, and faith.

Lee had a passion for ballroom dancing and was a long-time member of the Empire Club and she frequently attended dances at the Officer’s Club on Fort Bliss. Lee was a social butterfly, effortlessly moving from table to table at dinners and dances, making new friends wherever she went. She was an active member of the Retired Officers Wives Club, the DDD Club, and an organization for military widows.

Her resilience through health challenges was nothing short of miraculous. She would often say, “You know, I’ve never been sick a day in my life. Except for when I lost that kidney while I was carrying Bobby.” She chose to forget a heart attack requiring several stints and a life-saving early breast cancer diagnosis made by a student doctor at Beaumont Hospital.

In her later years, Lee repeatedly expressed gratitude for being able to live with her children, Johnn and Renee, in her Cornell Avenue home. “We’re so lucky. It’s a blessing,” she would say about their time together.

Lee is survived by her children: Johnn Leoni and Renee Clarkson of El Paso, and Robert Clarkson and his wife Margaret of Garland, Texas. She also leaves behind her grandchildren: Matthew Clarkson of Forney, Texas; Heather Schorken (Clarkson) of Richmond, Texas; Denise Leoni-Durrer of Lancaster, California; and Mario Libero Leoni III of Peoria, Arizona. She was blessed with 18 great-grandchildren: John, Claire, and Katherine Clarkson; Lydia, Levi, and Joseph Schorken; Chelsea, Dominick, Dante, Marcelino, Matteo, and Emiliano Leoni; Lydia DeAnda; Donnie, Eric, and Brad Durrer; and Christopher and Cody Leoni.

She is preceded in death by her husbands Colonel Clinton D. B. Smith, Walter (Wally) Clarkson Sr., and Mario Leoni Sr.; her mother, Rose Frklic (Clark, Perea); father, Ed C. Clark; brother, Raymond Clark Sr.; son, Mario Leoni Jr.; and grandson, Michael Leoni.

A visitation will be held at 11:00 AM, followed by a funeral Mass at 12:00 PM on Monday, March 10, 2025, at Sunset Funeral Home-Northeast, 4631 Hondo Pass. A committal service will immediately follow at 1:30 PM at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson.

Lee’s life was a testament to love, faith, and family. Her energy, kindness, and enduring spirit touched all who knew her, leaving behind cherished memories and a lasting legacy.