Kathryn Bernice Smith's Obituary
Kathryn Bernice Smith, known as Katie, was born on June 21, 1927, in Vinton, Iowa. She passed away on July 18, 2018, in Dallas, Texas at the age of 91.Her father was a school superintendent in Iowa and a Lieutenant Colonel during World War II. Her mother was a housewife and they lived in many places.Katie grew up with a younger brother, Gordon Johnson, and an older sister, Mary Ellen Brown. Katie graduated from Thomasville High School in Georgia and graduated from Texas Woman’s University, remaining lifelong friends with Bobbie Barnett, her roommate there. She received her master’s degree in library science from East Texas State University. Katie was a public school librarian for many years and prided herself in distinguishing her library services beyond those of her peers during her career. She often volunteered to help other librarians organize their libraries and improve their service.Katie traveled the world with one suitcase, visiting every continent except Australia. She was an avid birder and a wonderful cook. She was a faithful attendee of Casa View United Methodist Church. Her grandchildren became the focus of her world in the last half of her life and she spent many hours babysitting them all.Katie was adventurous, caring, outgoing, opinionated, and spirited. She could organize anything. She was a champion of the less fortunate and generous to a fault.Katie was preceded in death by her husband, George Louis Smith, her parents, Frank Johnson and Bernice Ella Johnson, her brother Gordon Johnson, and her sister Mary Ellen Brown.She is survived by Shirley Lyn Smith Duke and husband Daniel, James Louis Smith and wife Marsha, Kathryn Rebecca Smith Dyer and husband Paul, Robert Kevin Smith, and her grandchildren Robert Dale Duke, George Duke, Allison Smith Ryser and husband Drew, Stuart Smith, Kevin Smith, Melissa Dyer Beck and husband Eric, Monica Dyer and husband Ricardo Venegas, Aaron Dyer, Andrew Smith, Michael Smith and wife Catherine, and Sarah Smith. Her great-grandchildren in include Caroline Ryser, Carson Ryser, Grayson Dyer, Michael Sanderson, Mia Sanderson, and Justin Beck.Her service is on August 4, 2018, at 3:00 pm in the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home. Donations may be made in Katie’s name to the Dallas Zoological Society in Dallas.Katie lived a long, full life, including the 35 years following the death of her husband, G.L. Katie loved everybody and everyone loved Katie.
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