Dorothy Smith Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Dorothy Smith, age 99, passed away on July 4 , 2013. She lived for the past 7 years in Tavares, FL with her daughter, Judy Miller. She was a mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, teacher, baker of breads and rolls, a bargain hunter and Bingo player. Watching the game shows on TV and completing the Find A Word puzzle were favorite pastimes. She was a lover of life and enjoyed it to the fullest with a healthy outlook. Her husband, John, passed away in 1981. When asked why she never had another man, she would reply, "I had the best loving man in the world; besides, if you have a man, you have to feed him." Her sense of humor never left her. She was born on December 10, 1913 to William and Blanche Shaffer. They lived in the Boyers area where William Shaffer was a coal miner. In 1916 he went to work in the steel mills in Ellwood City. The family moved to Ellwood City, but William passed away in 1918 after he contracted the flu. Her mother, Blanche, moved the children back to Boyers. Dorothy attended one room school houses, Rock and Pisgah. Then she went to Eau Claire High School and graduated in 1932 in a class of ten. There was no transportation provided, so she walked the four miles each way. Following high school graduation, she worked at various homes as caretaker for children and doing domestic work. She decided to go to college and become a teacher. She started teaching in 1938, at Goff School, in Venago Township, in a one room school house. She taught all grades at Goff, Rock, Seaton and Cochran schools. the one room schools were being closed and Dorothy was ready for a new phase of life. During those long eight mile walks to and from high school, she met the love of her life, John A. Smith of Hilliards. He worked in the coal mines, but he had a car. He started driving her to and from school and their destiny was sealed. They were married June 28, 1941. They had two daughters, Phyllis Smith (Ford) and Judy Smith (Miller). Dorothy stayed home during the early 1950's to raise the girls but she returned to teaching with the Moniteau School District at Lone Tree School. At this time a four year Bachelor's degree was required. She went to college during summers and graduated with her degree in the mid 1960's from Slippery Rock State University. After Lone Tree closed, she taught at Washington Elementary. She retired in 1979 after 31 years of teaching from the Moniteau School District. Following the death (2006) of her oldest daughter, Phyllis, she moved to Florida to live with Judy. She spent 7 wonderful years living the typical retired life in Florida by visiting, reading, riding in the golf cart, shopping and having fun in the sun. She was a life long member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Murrinsville and served as a Eucharistic Minister, Sunday School Teacher, lector and volunteer for church dinners and activities. She was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in DeLand, FL. She is survived by one daughter, Judy, one grandson, Michael Ford (Lainie), and one great granddaughter, Isla Ford and a number of nieces and nephews. Predeceasing her were her parents, Blanche and William Shaffer; husband, John (1981); daughter,Phyllis Ford; brothers, Clifford (Ann) and Stanley (Henrietta)Shaffer; sisters, Pauline Biggins and Stella May Shaffer. Visitation will be at the Jack Buzard Funeral Home in Eau Claire from 2-4pm and 6-8pm on Tuesday, July 9, 2013. The funeral mass will be on Wednesday, July 10, at St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church in Murrinsville. If you desire, contributions may be made to the St. Alphonsus Cemetery Fund, PO Box 246, West Sunbury, PA 16061 or to Lake Hills School, 909 S. Lakeshore Blvd; Howey in the Hills, FL 34737 or to a charity of your choice. She will be remembered as the woman who was loved by many and she taught many people in the area how to read and write. Her baked rolls and breads were sought by many and the different pickles and relish condiments that she created were enjoyed. May God bless Dorothy and welcome her home. Poem: To Those I Love When I am gone, just release me, let me go so I can move into my afterglow. You mustn't tie me down with your tears; let's be happy that we had so many years. I gave you my love, you can only guess how much you gave me in happiness. I thank you for the love you each have shown, but now it is time I traveled on alone. So grieve for me awhile, if grieve you must, then let your grief be comforted with trust. It's only for a while that we must part, so bless the memories within your heart. And then, when you must come this way alone, I'll greet you with a smile and a "Welcome Home."

Dorothy Smith

December 10, 1913 - July 4, 2013