Dorothy Hello Smith, of Beaumont, died at home on January 16, 2009. She was born November 18, 1933 in Austin, Texas to Jack Hello and wife Vivian Mathis Hello. She grew up in Austin, attended its schools, and graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in the class of 1951.
She attended the University of Texas, Austin, and later was employed at the U.T. Law School. She coordinated the activities of the Legal Aid Clinic at the Law School for several years.
She later moved to Houston and was employed as a Legal Secretary with the law firm of Andrews, Kurth, Campbell & Jones for about five years. Dorothy was later employed at the law firm of Fountain, Cox, and Gaines in Houston.
Near Labor Day in the year 1961 she met Sam O. Smith, a native of Beaumont. The first storm they weathered together was called Hurricane “Carla.” They were married on January 20, 1962 in Houston, by Dr. Charles L. Allen, of First Methodist Church, Houston. Their first child, Sandra Jean Smith (Patterson) was born in 1964 in Houston; their second child, Kimberly Ann Smith (Justeson) was born in Beaumont in 1970.
In 1969 the family returned to Beaumont and she was active as office manager of various Smith business interest in the real estate field, including appraisals, counseling, development and land title services, until her retirement.
She was predeceased by her mother and father; and her nephew, Wade Hello of Austin.
She is survived by her husband of forty-seven years, Sam O. Smith of Beaumont; daughters, Sandra Smith Patterson and her husband Dale of Austin and Kimberly Smith Justeson and her husband Jeremy of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania; brother, Jack Ben Hello and wife Darlene of Austin; sister-in-law, Pat Smith Terry and her husband Edwin of Lakeway Village, Texas; grandchildren, Ryan and Brandon Patterson of Austin and Jake and Reid Justeson of Pennsylvania.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at Trinity United Methodist Church followed by burial at Forest Lawn under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 N Major Drive, Beaumont. A gathering of family and friends will be Monday evening, January 19, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, P O Box 5247, Beaumont, Texas 77726
