Dorothy Jean Smithey Currin was born at home near Commerce, Texas around 6:00 in the morning on January 22, 1926 during one of the most severe ice and snowstorms of the 20th Century. She grew up and attended school in the small farming communities of Aberfoyle and Chigger Ridge, also known as Pleasant Ridge, near Commerce. Upon completing ninth grade she attended Greenville Senior High, but due to her family’s change in residence, graduated from Commerce HS in 1943. She married J.C. Currin from Cumby, Texas on June 29, 1945 while he was home on leave for his Grandfather Gillis’s funeral. J.C. returned to active duty in the Pacific Theater two weeks later. Both newlyweds lost their only brothers in WW II.
After the war the young couple first settled in Commerce where they began their family and then moved to Greenville where J.C. started his business, Currin Auto Trim. In her early adult life Dorothy worked as a dental assistant for Dr. Parker in Greenville, but then became a stay-at-home-mom while her children were small. She was active in the PTA, perennially serving as a homeroom mother while also keeping the books for the family business. Later she worked as the manager at the Henson Kickernick Lobby Shop in downtown Greenville and then joined the team at Mary of Puddin Hill Bakery.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her brother, SonnyBoy, aka J.G. Smithey, her mother, Ollie Gray Davis Smithey, her father, Joe Dee Smithey, her husband, J.C. Currin, and sister, Jessie Faye Smithey Lambert.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses: Nita Currin Rawlings and husband, Phil, Joe Currin and wife, Alicia, Jim Currin and husband, Kevin Baab, Jan Currin Stuart and husband, Clint, and her nephew Joe Lambert and wife, Nancy. She has seven grandchildren: Andrew Rawlings, Brandi Crow Hall, Katie Rawlings Tillery, Megan Stuart Oakes, Rachel Currin Stewart, Jacob Stuart, and Lucas Currin and their spouses; and 13 great grandchildren with one on the way. Her grandsons and grandsons-in-law are honored to be her pallbearers.
Dorothy Currin enjoyed cooking, baking, and entertaining in her home, and was especially well-known for her pies and cakes. She was an avid reader and walker, loved to play 42 and 84, enjoyed swimming, skiing, cooking out, and picnicking at Greenville Club Lake with family and friends. She participated in the Altrusa Club Golden Agers and was a member of Hillside Church of Christ. She touched many lives in her 93 years. Known as Grammie to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and members of her church community, she will be remembered for her kindness, sweet personality, and for giving warm hugs. She is loved and will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at the chapel of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home with Mr. Brady Cook officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Wolfe City. Visitation will be Saturday, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.