Obituaries

Dollye Smith Shoemaker

Photo of Dollye Smith Shoemaker
Dollye Smith Shoemaker, 98, of Pine Bluff, died Thursday, February 15, 2018 at Trinity Village Medical Center. She was born in Pine Bluff May 22, 1919 to Gertrude Galster Smith and Raymond B. Smith. With the exception of four years in Monroe, Louisiana, she attended Pine Bluff schools and graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1936. During World War II, she worked at the Pine Bluff Arsenal and the State Department in Washington, D.C. After the war ended she attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where she received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in History, which she taught for many years in Pine Bluff and Honolulu, Hawaii. While living in Hawaii, she and James H. Shoemaker were married. They moved to Pine Bluff in 1970. Mrs. Shoemaker continued to teach. Her husband was retired from the Bank of Hawaii as its economist. Through the years Dollye was active in many study groups and clubs, including League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women, Pilot Club, Delta Kappa Gamma (teachers club) and Shepherd Center (she was president of these last two for two terms). She also was a member of PEO, Sesame Club (DKG Book Club) and Junior Mathontes have been her main activities for the last few years. All while living in Pine Bluff she attended Second Baptist Church and lived for many years at Trinity Village Apartment 24 and later at Trinity Village Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Even though Dollye did not have any immediate survivors, she was a strong leader in the Galster family. She was known for organizing family reunions and other events. She will be greatly missed by all of her nieces, nephews and cousins. The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers of Trinity Village for their wonderful, loving care of Mrs. Shoemaker. A memorial service will be 2 p.m., Friday, February 23, 2018 in the Great Hall of Trinity Village with Reverend Harold Mitchell officiating by Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Directors. Interment will be private. Memorials may be made to the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas Endowment Fund, 701 Main Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601 or Trinity Village, 6400 Trinity Drive, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Published February 20, 2018

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