Dorothy Ann Smith, 89 years, 16 days old, passed peacefully to Heaven on September 29, 2023 at the Manor at Elfindale in Springfield, MO with family by her side.
Dorothy Ann was born September 13, 1934 at high noon at Deaconess Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, the only child of Rev. Clarence Wesley and Cora Elizabeth (Whitley) Duffer.
Dorothy Ann went to grade school in Dexter, MO and completed High School in Providence, KY. She came from a music loving family. Dorothy Ann was first chair violin in the school orchestra and first chair clarinet in band. She had many aunts and uncles and cousins near her age and she loved them dearly her whole life. She finished her education at Southwest Missouri State Teachers College, attending college with her mother. Dorothy Ann valued education and loved children. She loved her little second graders and had one class of 6th graders she never forgot.
On June 3, 1956 Dorothy Ann and Hollis Dain Smith were united in marriage at Ava, MO and they were blessed with two sons, David Dain and Daniel Keith.
Dorothy Ann was a public school teacher and she also worked with her husband in his career as a Veterinarian, putting him through school by teaching. They moved to West Plains after college, raising a family and making many lifelong friends in the community and at their church. After retirement Dorothy Ann and Dain moved to Ava to care for Dain’s parents and raise cattle for several years. In Ava they had many dear friends as well. Dorothy Ann was very active with the local PEO chapter. She was a talented quilter. She had a passion for genealogy and family history.
Dorothy Ann was a Christian and a member of the First Southern Baptist Church in Ava. She loved her family and enjoyed cooking and making holidays special. She was especially fond of cats.
Dorothy Ann was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Dain in 2013.
She is survived by her two sons and their spouses, David Dain and Cathy Smith of Springfield, MO and Daniel Keith and Turmelovea Smith of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Four grandchildren; Jessica Bennett, Joshua Smith, Danielle Deatherage, Lain Smith, other extended family and many friends.
Special thanks to Matt Heinlein and family, whose efforts helped enable Dorothy Ann to remain on her beloved farm for many years.
A visitation for Dorothy Ann will be Friday, October 6, 2023 from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. in the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, MO. Her graveside will be Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. in the Ava Cemetery, Ava, MO. Officiating will be Pastor Oren Alcorn. Memorials may be made to the Ava Area Animal Welfare League, P.O. Box 1885, Ava, MO 65608.
