The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Celeste Smith Hart of Orange died in Beaumont on June 27 at the age of 89.Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 1, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. A memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 2, at the Slade Chapel of the First United Methodist Church of Orange. Officiating will be the Rev. John Warren.

Celeste was born on Nov. 19, 1922 at Sunnyside Farm, Fayette County, TN., to John A. and Helen O. Smith. While in high school she moved to Orange to become a member of the Bengal Guards. She graduated from Lutcher Stark High School in 1941, and then attended Memphis State University. Upon returning to Orange, she met and married John T. Hart after the start of World War II.

She was preceded in death by her husband, of 45 years, and her two sisters, Laureame Hauser and Elizabeth “Smitty” Brown of Orange.

She is survived by, John T. Hart, Jr. and Susan Trahan of Orange, Kenny and Jeannie Hinyard of Crawford, CO and Mark and Jackie Thomas of Nathrop, CO; four grandchildren; four great grandchildren and nieces, Helen Rockwell and Carol Pendleton, both of Tyler.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004 or to the First United Methodist Church, 502 6th St, Orange, TX, 77630.

She was loved greatly and will be remembered fondly by her family and many friends.