Smith

Dorothy Smith, 99, passed away Thursday.

She lived for the past seven years in Tavares, Fla., 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 her 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 Dec. 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 10. 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 Venango Township, 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 1950s 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 1960s from Slippery Rock State University. After Lone Tree closed, she taught at Washington Elementary. She retired in 1979 after 31 years of teaching in the Moniteau School District.

Following the death in 2006 of her oldest daughter, Phyllis, she moved to Florida to live with Judy. She spent seven 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 lifelong member of the 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 the St. Peter’s Catholic Church in DeLand, Fla.

She is survived by one daughter, Judy; one grandson, Michael Ford (Lainie); one great-granddaughter, Isla Ford and a number of nieces and nephews.

Predeceasing her were her parents, Blanche and William Shaffer; husband, John in 1981; daughter, Phyllis Ford; brothers, Clifford (Ann) and Stanley (Henrietta) Shaffer; and sisters, Pauline Biggins and Stella May Shaffer.

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.

SMITH — Friends of Dorothy Smith, who passed away Thursday, July 4, 2013, may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home, 201 S. Washington St., Eau Claire. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Murrinsville, with Father James Bedillion, church pastor, officiating. Burial in Eau Claire Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Dorothy requested memorials to the St. Alphonsus Church Cemetery, c/o Father Bedillion, P.O. Box 246, West Sunbury, Pa. 16061.

To view/send condolences, sympathy cards, visit www.buzardfuneralhomes.com.