Camille Smith Steiner, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away on February 14, 2012 in Vivian, LA at the age of 102. Camille was born May 7, 1909 near Blanchard, LA on the "Smith Home Place". She was the fifth of six children born to Alice Brown Compton Smith and Bonona Adelbert Smith, and moved to Mooringsport, LA in 1914. She was reared in Mooringsport, where she attended school and graduated from Mooringsport High School in 1925. During her school years she was a member of the Campfire Girls, an organization which had a very positive effect on her life, and made various trips to Louisiana parks and the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas with this group. She attended Normal State Teachers College in Natchitoches, LA, Centenary College in Shreveport, LA and graduated from Draughan's Business College in Shreveport. She became as executive secretary for Shreveport's Longleaf Lumber Company, until her marriage to Carl Eugene Steiner on January 25, 1936. Camille and Carl were married in a beautiful ceremony at Mooringsport Methodist Church.

Camille resided in Caddo Parish for 85 years. In 1944 she and her family moved to Heidelberg, MS with the "Oil Boom" and to Natchez, MS for a year. Her husband Carl was employed by Gulf Oil Corp. for 45 years. While living in Mississippi, Camille was a very active member of the Heidelberg Methodist Church, donating much time and energy to the Methodist Women's Missionary Society as a team captain, which prepared meals for the Heidelberg Rotary Club. She was a member of the Heidelberg Garden Club, a member and judge of the National Chrysanthemum Society, receiving tri-color awards for her chrysanthemums in Heidelberg and Natchez. While residing in Natchez, she was an active participant in the Methodist Women's Circle, Jefferson Street Methodist church and the Natchez Garden Club.

Upon her return to Mooringsport in 1961, Camille continued her commitment to the Mooringsport Methodist Church. One of her fondest memories was her journey to Israel with church members, led by pastor Dan Groves and his wife Luci. Camille's favorite hobbies were gardening and playing bridge. She so enjoyed providing flowers for Sunday morning worship at Mooringsport Methodist Church, was a member of the Senior Sunday School Class, which she alternately taught, and always looked forward to the "We Care" luncheons, sponsored by the local churches.

Camille loved to travel and especially enjoyed trips with family and friends. She had a passion for history and family genealogy. Many of her family documents are on display at the Mooringsport Mini Museum. She was delighted in helping to preserve and share the history of Mooringsport and Caddo Parish through this museum. In 1988 she and her daughter traveled to England with Family Society Tours, which conducted a genealogical tour, providing her with opportunity to visit the hometowns and churches of her English ancestors.

Her other activities included membership in the Kuiwat Women's Club in Mooringsport, The Mooringsport Birthday Club, and the Pelican Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, in Shreveport.

She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty years, Carl Eugene Steiner, sisters; Baby Marion Smith, Adele Smith Graham and Evelyn Iris Smith Stephenson, brothers; F. Clifford Smith and Robert C. "Lanky" Smith, sisters-in-law; Cretora Steiner Hinton and Joyce Mathis Smith and brothers-in-law; Louis B. Stephenson and Walter Graham.

Camille is survived by her two children, Alice Steiner Felgner and husband Paul H. Felgner and Carl Eugene Steiner Jr. and wife Marilynn Johnson Steiner; granddaughters Shelley Steiner Goddard and husband Scott and Alys Camille Felgner; grandsons, Carl Eugene Steiner III and wife Tracy, Jason Steiner and wife Olivia and Gary Steiner; five great- grandchildren; and nieces Jacqueline Smith Shamburger and Suzanne Stephenson Williams.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am Saturday, February 18, 2012 at Mooringsport Methodist Church officiated by Rev. Robin Haley. Burial will follow in Mooringsport Memorial Gardens in Mooringsport. There will be a time of visitation from 6-8 pm on Friday the 17th at Gorsulowsky Funeral Home in Vivian, LA.




Published in Shreveport Times on February 16, 2012