Anna Jean "Smoki" Akin, born 6-2-1924 in Clovis, New Mexico, to Sam Smoke and Virginia Smoke. She began playing the piano at age 5. Mom took her first piano lessons from an old jazz performer in Clovis and also studied classical. She used to tell how she would kick the piano because she had to practice while the other neighbor kids were outside playing. In 1933, at age 11, she competed in the Panhandle Music Festival in Amarillo, Texas, winning the award rating of 11 or Superior performance. She played for high school and many other functions, which she said allowed her to skip classes to perform. She completed studies in piano and musical theory at Amarillo Conservatory of Musical Arts. Mom's first gig at age 8 was for the Masonic Lodge where she was paid $8.00, good money in 1932. Her high school graduating class voted her most popular. She met dad, Walter Royal Durham, who lived in Portales, New Mexico, in high school and after graduating moved to San Francisco where they married and worked in the shipyards. She checked the welds on the ships being built for the war. She had Larry, our older brother, in San Francisco during the war. He only lived a few months and his loss was a heartbreak for her her whole life. Dad was a trombone player, so they played at night in various bands for extra money. They then lived in the Carson City area and played with bands at night in the casinos. Mom and Dad were driving through Oklahoma City in the 60's, liked the town and the people, so they stayed. She started the "Smoki Durham Band" which played all over Oklahoma. She also participated in many charitable events and nursing homes with her band and other events including for George Nigh and Roy Rogers. Mom played with Count Basie, Left Frizell and Sammy Smith. She participated in the local show called the "Grid Iron," a comedic roast of local politicians. She created an all-girls band in 1976 called "The Last of the Red Hot Mamas." Mom and Dad would take us to the Oklahoma lakes to play for functions where we would all fish, waterski and have a great time. She helped dad run his business of "Walt Durham TV." Her second love was fishing and she bought an old fisherman's cabin at Lake Tenkiller where many happy memories were made. She had an abiding affection for her dogs and cats and as a child grew up riding horses with her cousins in New Mexico and Texas. Mom was a member of Olivet Baptist Church, and a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. She led her kids to Christ and taught Sunday school and played the organ for church services. She also played at a church at Lake Tenkiller for the pastor, J.B. Dreadfullwater. When her kids were in school, she worked at one of the local schools as an Administrative Assistant to the principal. She remarried Erwin M. (Bo) Akin in 1972, and helped him with his business "Akin Appliance." He was her most avid fan and band-roady, toting around her portable electric piano all over Oklahoma. They were very much in love and happily married for 31 years. Mom was generous, loving, funny, fun, bright and talented. She never knew a stranger. Even when her dementia took everything away from her, she still would look at you and tell you she loved you with a beautiful smile and the light of God's love shining through her beautiful blue eyes. It was astounding to watch. She was predeceased by her son, Larry Durham and her first and second husbands, Walt Durham and Bo Akin. She will be terribly missed by her children, Jeff Durham and wife Frances, Linda Dever, Virginia Lemaster; step-children, Carol Jo Akin and Mike Akin; grandchildren, Angie Dubois and husband David and Ginger Jennings, and great granddaughter, Camden Dubois. Our family requests that anyone wishing to donate to a charity do so to Alzheimer's or Dementia reputable foundations. We will be remembering her at Mercer-Adams Chapel this Friday, May 10, 2013, at 2:00pm, followed by burial services at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. A gathering celebration will be held at Mom's home afterward. Funeral Service Friday, May 10, 2013 02:00 PM Mercer-Adams Chapel 3925 N. Asbury Bethany, OK 73008