- Date Of Birth: November 9, 1924
- Date Of Death: May 9, 2018
- State: Colorado
Dorothy F. Smith, 93, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, in Scottsdale, AZ. Dottie, as she was known to friends, or “Aunt Dot”, as she was more famously known to her extensive family, was the oldest child of John and Catherine Smith. Standing barely five feet tall with stunning auburn-red hair, sparkling blue eyes and a beautiful smile, Dottie radiated warmth with her quick wit and love of storytelling. Adored by all for her graciousness, she exemplified the true meaning of love, kindness and generosity. Born in Denver in 1924, Dottie attended St. Francis de Sales grade school and high school, Denver, CO, graduating valedictorian in 1942. Upon graduation, she and her close friend, Dottie Powell, made an adventuresome trip to southern California to live and work until the end of 1945. At that time, she began a rewarding career in banking, ending her working years in 1984 when she retired from a long-time position as executive assistant to the Chairman of United Banks of Colorado. Dottie frequently commented how much she loved working at the bank and being involved with professional organizations, including serving as the president of the Professional Secretaries Association. In 1946, Dottie met the love of her life, Bernard “Barney” Smith. They were married for over 51 years, when Barney passed away in 1999. Though not parents themselves, Dot and Barney were crazy about their legion of nieces and nephews, from their first treasured niece born in 1949, to the 34 more that came over the following decades. That number more than tripled with consequent generations of grand-nieces and nephews. Dottie loved newborn babies and assumed a matriarchal role, frequently caring for the children of her sisters and brother, and becoming endeared in the memories of so many as “Sweet Aunt Dot.” From any heartache Dottie may have felt without children of her own sprang endless love and joy, relishing in nonstop hugs and sticky kisses from the newest troop of little angels God continually placed in her life. Dottie was also a loving and generous daughter who personally cared for her mother for more than a decade before her passing in 1988, and who watched over her father’s well-being in his last years. During their married years, Dottie and Barney enjoyed frequent travel throughout the United States and around the world. She fondly and frequently recounted the story of her planned crossing the International Date Line on a trip to Australia so she could “skip over” her birthday.
