Dorothy Kope Star's Obituary
On Tuesday, July 19, 2022, Dorothy Kope Star passed away peacefully to heaven at the age of 83. She was born to the late Blair and Doris Beatrice (Beene) Kope on August 9, 1938, in Longview, TX. She was also preceded in death by her loving step-mother, Doris Kope and Doris’ daughters Tootsie and Nancy. Dorothy was raised in Era, TX where she met and was married to Max Grace Smith for 35 years. She is survived by her son, Michael Blair (Valerie) Smith of Brentwood, TN and daughter, Lisa Ann (Gary) Hestand of Austin, TX: grandchildren Michael Blair Hestand (Caroline), Dana Elaine Hestand, Sara Grace Smith, and Summer Claire Smith. She is also survived by her sister Barbara (Jim) Moore of Nova Scotia, and numerous nieces and nephews in Canada and Texas. Dorothy graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas and went on to become one of the leading salespersons for Savin and Cannon copiers in both Sherman and Dallas, TX. While she lived in Dallas she was an active member in The Unity Church of Dallas. She was also very active in Toast Master’s and won numerous awards for both. Dorothy never met a stranger and had a remarkable sense of humor and wit.
Dorothy was a free and remarkable spirt. While she was born Dorothy Jean Kope, she changed her name later in life to Dorothy Star, because she loved the sound of it. Her voice greeting for her phone always started with “Hello you beautiful, wonderful person”, and that is how she treated everyone she met, with open arms and acceptance. She was an encouraging and positive person to all around her, especially to her family and friends. She was known in her family as the “Queen of Canasta” for her competitive spirit and was almost impossible to beat at that game. Even in her final year with dementia, she won many more games than she lost.
She was an avid reader, loved to travel, and was an advocate for women and minority rights and anyone who she considered the underdog. She had another nickname – “Do-Right Dorothy” because she wasn’t afraid to voice her opinion to always do what she believed was right in her heart. Her encouraging and loving spirit will be sorely missed by her family. Visitation will be held Monday, July 25, 2022 from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m. at Restland Funeral home in Dallas, TX. The funeral service will be Tuesday, July 26, 2022 from 10:00am to 11:00am in the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral home followed by internment at Restland Cemetery then followed by lunch.
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