Clara Louise Smoak, known as “Granny” to all, died at 101½ years old peacefully at home on December 22, 2025, with her loved ones. The family is deeply grateful to VIA Hospice Care for their compassionate support.
Louise was born on May 15, 1924, in Meridien, Miss. She was the daughter of Charles and Clara Craven.
Louise’s father worked in the train business in Meridian, which was at the intersection of several major railroads. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She was the oldest of five kids. She spent most of her adult life in the New Orleans area, where she developed a love of beignets, which would accompany a very good cup of chicory coffee. If she had one addiction in life, it was coffee, which evolved into a special affection for lattes, which she liked to drink at 5 p.m. every day.
She married Clyde Smoak in 1941. The country was in the midst of WWII when they married. Clyde enlisted in the Marine Corps and Louise went to Arkansas to take a job helping build the Tiny Tim, a large air-to-ground rocket developed by the U.S. Navy designed to deliver a 500-pound warhead against fortified targets and ships.
She lived through an astonishing amount of history, starting with the Depression. She always had distinct memories of people standing in long food lines for a bowl of soup, which made her grateful for every meal. Clyde worked in the asphalt business and was a co-owner of South East Paving Co. Louise helped Clyde with the business. The construction project Louise most enjoyed being part of was paving portions of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Clyde passed away in 1975.
Louise had a son, Charles “Don” Donald Smoak, who passed away in 2018, and a daughter, Elizabeth “Beth” Smoak Woodward, who passed away in 2017. She also lost a granddaughter, Courtenay Smoak, who was killed in 1984 at the age of 18 while she was a freshman at Louisiana State University, after being struck by a drunk driver. Louise is survived by three grandchildren, Laura Garrison, Kate Vanderpool, and Charles Donald “Sonny” Smoak Jr., and six great-grandchildren, Claire, Lily, and Molly Vanderpool, and Cooper, Garrett, and Logan Smoak. She is survived by a sister, Sara Cooper, the youngest of the five. She also is survived by a beloved grandson-in-law, Troy Garrison, who has been by her side the past 11 years and whom she referred to as her “angel.”
While she experienced loss in her 101½ years, she also experienced a lot of joy and fun. When she reflected on her favorite hobbies over the years, they were painting (she was a very dedicated artist), dancing and swimming. Until her early 90s, she would swim laps multiple times each week. One of the things she loved the most was cardinals. There is a longstanding spiritual belief that cardinals are associated with departed loved ones, and Laura and Troy will always think of Granny when they see a cardinal in the yard.
Louise always said she had no regrets and lived the best life she could.
A private service will be held. Those wishing to honor Louise’s memory may make donations to Williamson’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Mooresville, where she was a member.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is proudly serving the Smoak family.