CLARENCE "SKI" SMOLINSKI, age 70, a resident of Irving for 7 years, formerly of Iowa, died Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at home. Ski was born May 25, 1943 in Rogers City, Michigan to Joseph and Emily Smolinski. During his service with the U.S. Navy, Clarence (Ski) earned many commendations and medals including a Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service and Campaign Medals, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Commendation for Gallantry, an Antarctic Service Medal and a Cross Medal with Palm. Survivors include his step-son, David Hawthorne and wife Christine of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Crisda, Cyra and Drake. Also surviving are his "adopted" family in Iowa: god-daughter, Tina Krebs and daughter, Kali of Ainsworth, Iowa; Todd and Eileen Heck and sons, Logan, Mason and Connor of Columbus Junction, Iowa; Teresa Heck and Becci Andrews of Hills, Iowa; Trent and Ozge Heck of Coralville, Iowa; Ike and Tiffany Heister and son, Cooper of Lowden, Iowa and their mother, Ruth Heck of Washington, Iowa. "Uncle Ski has been a very special treasure through the years of life as a Navy family who were stationed at NAS Jacksonville, Florida and NAS Moffett Field, California during Navy careers from 1961 to 1981.