Ethel Lee Smith

Smith, Ethel Lee LaBorde

Ethel Lee LaBorde Smith died on Wednesday January 24, 2024, in Daphne, AL. She was 85.

Born in Marksville, LA; she was raised in Baton Rouge, LA and was a resident of the Prairieville/Gonzales LA area for over 50 years. Ethel moved to Daphne, AL in 2007 after the death of her beloved spouse, Oran A. Smith, Sr.

Ethel retired from the Ascension Parish School Board system in 1992 where she taught high school English for 15 years and was head Librarian at East Ascension Senior High School in Gonzales, LA for 10 years. 

Ethel graduated from lstruma High School in Baton Rouge, LA in 1956 and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education from Louisiana State University, with a Masters in Educational Media plus 30.

In Daphne, Ethel was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church where she started the Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Prayer Group.

Ethel is survived by her son, Oran Arthur Smith, Jr. of Gonzales; daughter and son-in-law Dr. Anita Kemmerly and Colin E. Kemmerly of Daphne; two grandsons, Colin Edward "Ned" Kemmerly, Jr. and George McNeil Kemmerly, of Daphne; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen and Edward Dunbar of Denham Springs, LA, and Vickie and Tom Hicks of Baton Rouge, LA; and two brothers-in-law Roland Smith and Lloyd Smith. 

Ethel was preceded in death by her spouse, Oran A. Smith, Sr,; Father Dalton L. LaBorde; and Mother Hazel Dubea LaBorde Wells.

Ethel loved people, she was a people person. She enjoyed her students and all her good friends in Baton Rouge and Gonzales. Loved the many new friends she made in Daphne, especially all the ladies in the Christ the King Sodality and the Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Prayer Group. She was active in supporting the Mobile Diocese Seminarians and the Vocations Ministry.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 02, 2024 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, LA., visitation will be at 10:00am and Mass will be at 11:00am. Graveside services will be held at Resthaven Gardens of Memory in Baton Rouge, LA. at 12:00pm  following Mass. The reception to follow, at Resthaven.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Ethel's name be made to the Vocation's Ministry of Christ the King Catholic Church, 711 College Avenue Daphne, Alabama 36526