I Saw You

(A Tribute to My Sister)

By

Avery Smith

I saw you today in the morning dew

As brilliant as a sea of shimmering diamonds

I shared the most amazing sunrise with you today

A million shades of red so random in their perfection

I heard you today in the laugh of my children

An enchanting melody a thousand angels strong

I walked with you today and we talked about everything

….and nothing all at once

I saw you today in the changing of the leaves

The colors of your life, the close of one season

And the ushering in of another

I sat beside a stream with you today

The peaceful flow, steady and constant

I saw you today….and you were perfect

And rest assured….I shall see you again

Below is a Memorial from her parent's local newspaper

Lori Lee Smith

Our precious daughter, Lori was suddenly taken away from us last year on September 6, 2006, at a local hospital. It seems like only yesterday that our beautiful, red head was active in our life while building a life of her own. She was just 30 years of age. She had a wonderful attitude, pleasing personality, love of children, family and her pets, an appreciation for life and a secure faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. She loved music and singing and was a former member of the Tucson Girls Chorus and the girls chorus at Sahuaro High School. One of her favorite songs was "Tomorrow" from the Broadway play, "Annie." It was played and sung at her memorial service. Lori was born in Ada, Oklahoma. She attended grade school in Ada at Cornerstone Christian Academy and continued her grade school, middle school and high school education in Phoenix, Orlando and Tucson. She received an associate's degree in business from Chaparrel College. She was employed as an administrative assistant for her father's Farmers Insurance agency in Tucson. She was preceded in death by her grandmothers, Doris Lee Martin and Inez Gaskins-Smith. Survivors include her parents, Hicks A. Smith, III and Debbra L. Smith, Oro Valley; a brother, Avery "Bubba" Smith and wife, Amy; nieces, Ashley and Jordan Smith; nephew, Tyler Smith, all of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; her grandparents, Jim and Joan Martin and Hicks A. Smith, Jr., all of Ada, Oklahoma. Lori was a free spirit and a courageous survivor of a life-long metabolic disorder. She was a living miracle and an inspiration to those who suffered from Propionic Acidemia. An online memorial of her can be accessed (website of the Organic Acidemia Association), see the Memorial page. Contributions may be made, in her name, at this same website. She is greatly missed and will remain, "Forever in our hearts."

Hicks and Debbra Smith (Lori's parents)