Claire Elaine Haraway

In Loving Memory of
Claire Elaine Smith Haraway

July 17, 1948 – August 26, 2026

Claire Elaine Smith Haraway, age 78, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2026, following a courageous three-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Elaine was always the life of the party, possessing a wonderful sense of humor and a beautiful, infectious laugh that effortlessly made everyone else laugh along with her. She had a sharp mind, a warm heart, and a quick wit, and she never forgot a face or a name.

Early Life and Adventure
Elaine was born on July 17, 1948, in Columbus, Georgia, to Mary Lou Smith and Lt. Colonel Warren Wallace Smith. As the daughter of a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, her childhood was a grand adventure filled with travel. Her family notably lived in Munich, Germany, exploring the world together before returning to the States.
She attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas, before moving to Texarkana, Texas, in 1965. She went on to graduate from Texas Senior High School with the proud Class of 1966. In 2024, her children moved her from Texarkana to Grand Prairie, Texas, to lovingly care for her during her final years.

A Life of Service and Passion
Elaine was a dedicated public servant, spending 30 years working for the Social Security Administration, where she committed her career to helping others. She remained deeply close to her long-time coworkers from the Social Security office throughout her life. Following her retirement, her love of a good meal, passion for recipes, and enjoyment of cooking shows—as a true foodie at heart—led her to work part-time for several years at Julie’s Deli in Texarkana.
Elaine possessed a deep appreciation for the culinary arts. She had a genuine love for sharing wonderful food and a nice rosé wine, and always loved to engage in a good political debate. Because of her deep engagement with U.S. politics, she never missed a time to vote in any election and constantly encouraged everyone to get out and vote, as the right to vote was incredibly important to her.

Faith, Family, and Interests
During Andee and Jamie's school-age years, Elaine was a loving and dedicated mother who ensured they were active in sports and fully supported in everything they did. She brought a beautiful energy to the home, especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas—her two absolute favorite holidays to celebrate with family. She was a woman of faith, and a devoted member of Hardy Memorial United Methodist Church, where she cherished her many church friends.

An avid reader with a passion for history, Elaine spent countless hours researching and preserving her family’s genealogy. A true patriot at heart, she loved anything red, white, and blue, and held a deep fondness for Americana nostalgia. She loved a fun game night, especially playing Bunco and Canasta, and thoroughly enjoyed watching old movies, seemingly knowing everything there was to know about classic movie stars. She also delighted in getting lost in the pages of a good romance novel, enjoyed her favorite British television series on Acorn TV and Britbox, and possessed an immense tenderness for animals—always keeping feline companions close by and dearly loving her two Shih Tzus, Dolly and Bella.

Family and Legacy
Elaine was preceded in death by:
• Parents: Mary Lou Smith and Lt. Colonel Warren Wallace Smith
• Twin Sister: Linda Marie Smith Hodge
• Brothers: Michael Smith and Steve Smith
• Grandparents: T. Clyde Patton and Fannie McCall Patton, formerly of Muskogee, Oklahoma; and Melvin A. Smith and Lillian Irene Eicher Smith, formerly of Holder, Illinois

Her legacy remains the large, beautiful family she leaves behind. She is survived by:
• Children: Daughter Andee McPherson Jeans and husband Gary (Mansfield, TX); and son James "Jamie" Warren McPherson and his wife Sheila (Lindale, TX).
• Grandchildren: Megan Jeans; Spencer Jeans and wife Jessica (Mansfield, TX); Kara Davis and husband Preston (Lindale, TX); and Kaylee McPherson (Lindale, TX).
• Great-Grandchildren: Landon and Cooper Jeans; Karter Davis; and Brooke Redwine.

Special Expressions of Gratitude
Elaine's children wish to express their deepest, heartfelt gratitude to those who brought comfort and joy to her life and care:
• Randy and Becky Moore, for their enduring kindness in continuing to faithfully check in on Elaine throughout her illness.
• The Oxford Glen of Grand Prairie Caregiver Family, who lovingly embraced Elaine, making her feel safe, deeply cared for, and always happy in her new home.
• Hospice Nurse Sofia, who was an absolute, wonderful angel and exactly who the family needed to guide Elaine peacefully through her final days.

Memorial Intentions
In accordance with her wishes, Elaine will be cremated and no formal services will be held.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association at:

http://act.alz.org/goto/comfortkeepersmansfield

Elaine’s family will honor her memory during this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s on November 14th, 2026, in Arlington, TX.

Those who wish to send a sympathy card or a personal letter to the family may mail them to:
Andee Jeans
c/o Claire Elaine Haraway
PO Box 2189
Mansfield, Texas 76063