Coleman Smith

I have been thinking in the past few days of the beautiful song, "There Will Come Soft Rains", which our high school chorus in Durant, Oklahoma sang in approximately 1960 or 1961 and, along with our band, won the top award in Corpus Christi, Texas (referred to in these tributes).

The thought came to me just now to search Coleman Smith's name, and then I learned of his passing in March, 2012. I have fond memories of him teaching our high school chorus and listening to him play the...

"Dr. Coleman Smith was my voice teacher at Durant Junior High School for three years where he taught me Bel Canto singing and so many songs that had deep meaning like "The Trumpeter," and others on how to live life. I will always remember the trip to Corpus Christie, Texas and Durant High winning first place at the Buccaneer Music Festival under the direction of Coleman Smith.

After completing my BA in Music Ed. at Southeastern I taught music for three years at Beaver, Oklahoma....

I've known Coleman all of my life. Our families were best friends and got together very often to play 'pitch'. Many summer weekends were occasions for us to get together to enjoy home-made ice cream or juicy, delicious watermelons. He was several years older than my sister and me, but I was always in awe of his talent at the piano. While Coleman was at college, my family moved to Eufaula, and when he graduated, his first job was as music director, Eufaula High School. While at EHS, he...

I am saddened by the death of Dr. Smith. He was a wonderful teacher and friend. I was in the TuneSmiths in the late 70's and remember his leadership and teaching with great fondness. Those were wonderful times and dear friends! Our hearts and prayers go out to "Miss June", and Cathy and Jim and their family with this loss. God bless you!

Even though I was a clarinet major studying to be a band director, I studied private voice for 2 semesters with Dr. Smith at Central State in the late '60s. He was truly a wonderful human being and will be deeply missed.
With fond memories,
Dr. Stephen Clark
Professor of Music (Emeritus)
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN

I just recently met Dr. Smith at the Bradford Village Home in Edmond. He sat at the end of the table where my father, Ben Little, sits. We had very lovely conversations about music. I really wish I was able to know him better.

Lucy Moore

To read an obituary about a life filled with love and devotion to family, a passion for music and decades spent passing on those same values to thousands of students, one can only nod their head and remember Dr. Smith for all that his life represented and how it impacted each one of us. May we purpose to honor his memory by passing on those same passions and values to others.

I was a student of the late 60's and early 70's and sang four years in the mens glee club, Dr. Smith, as he was fondly know by his students, gave me a lasting love of all kinds of music, music that I chrish and remember even today, I bless him and give thanks to all that he gave.

Coleman and his sister, Margaret Ann, were my favorite cousins. I, too, lived in Canadian,
moved to McAlester but went back to Canadian
almost every week-end and spent weeks there
in the summers. Coleman directed Margaret
and me in song & dance, and showed us how
to paint. I loved sitting on the floor near the
piano as he played. He was always so kind,
interested in what I was doing and sometime
gave me advice and suggestions with my singing. ...