OBITUARY: Cora Smith, Jan. 1, 1940 – May 25, 2021

Cora Lenora Smith was born on Jan. 1, 1940, in Kilgore, Texas to Zelpher Fitch and Leonard Moss, who passed after her birth. Cora moved to Portland in the 1940s with her mother, stepfather, Sammie Fitch, and brother, Sammie Fitch, Jr. She attended Roosevelt High School, beauty school, and began modeling after high school. She married Hilton E. Smith and had three daughters, Lori Smith, Tracy M. Smith, and Cobi Lewis, of Portland, Ore.

Cora was a pioneer in the beauty industry, owned a hair salon, and founded a skincare and makeup line. She had a career in the fashion industry that included print and runway modeling. She was the grandmother of Michael and Marcus Dyer, Miles and Nina Jackson, and the great-grandmother of Mikaela and Tyson Dyer. She is preceded in death by her mother, stepfather, and brother. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her daughters on May 25, 2021. She will be eternally loved and never forgotten.