Doris Smith

Doris Arlene Smith (Noel), 86, passed away on Saturday, November 10, 2018. She was at home, under the loving care of her daughter Rebecca in Scotts, Michigan. She was married to the late Robert Jack Smith (d. 2016). She and her beloved Robby lived in Kalamazoo for 50 years in their first home on Highgate Road, before moving to the home of their daughter Rebecca and son-in-law Ken Gates of Scotts in 2012. Doris was born in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Juanita V. (Blatt) and Arthur Noel. She was the youngest of four children, Keith Noel, Bruce Noel, and Jackie Noel Dohrer, all of whom predeceased her. She graduated in 1950 from Iowa City High School. In 1955, she earned her bachelor's degree and Professional Certification in Occupational Therapy at the University of Iowa. After gaining work experience in Minneapolis, she moved to Philadelphia where she earned an M.Ed. degree in group dynamics from Temple University (1959). Her clinical positions included a National Institute of Mental Health project at the Philadelphia State Hospital, where she met Robert. She and her Robby were married 5 months after their first date (January 23, 1960) on July 4, 1960, and were the closest of partners throughout their 55 years together. They lived for a while in Osawatomie, Kansas, then moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1963 when Robert was offered a teaching position at Western Michigan University. While they raised their three young daughters, Doris and Rob traveled on sabbaticals to Mexico, Guatemala, and Trinidad. At home during those years and on summer breaks, Doris enjoyed planning projects, building, fixing, and making. A creative, talented artist, her drawings and pieces of copper enameling, ceramics, and handwork are lasting treasures. Her favorite music was the Franck Symphony in D minor, Robert Flack's "Killing Me Softly," listening to the flute and oboe, and the movie "Mama Mia." She and Rob had season tickets to Miller Auditorium in the Grand Tier and enjoyed the Kalamazoo Symphony. After retiring early to join Robert in spending time with their grandchildren, she always had a book in her hand or she was watching world news, or both. Doris joined the Occupational Therapy faculty at WMU in 1973, where she served for 19 years until retiring in 1992 as Professor Emerita. She drove her department's emphasis on the importance of theory and in developing research approaches. It pleased her greatly to learn in recent years that the foundation of the theory course she developed continues in the program. She enjoyed implementing innovative approaches to practice, including teaching her students to use computers for research, and applying her computer expertise in the administrative processes of the O.T. department. She published numerous research articles, presented at national professional conferences, and received university and national grants to pursue her research interests. In recognition for her research accomplishments, she was inducted as a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association in 1986. She was an empathetic therapist who was very attached to her clients, especially in the teaching clinic she coordinated for her department. Doris and Rob raised their family of three daughters in Kalamazoo: Stephanie (John Hall) of Novi, MI; Rebecca (Ken Gates) of Scotts, MI; and Elisa Weidner (Craig Gallup) of Coldwater, MI. She will be dearly missed by her sister-in-law Symmee S. Stroh, of Broomall, Pennsylvania. Known as Grandma Doree to her 12 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren, she left a legacy of loving acceptance, bone-crushing hand squeezes, and warm snuggles for all her family to remember her by. The family extends their appreciation to Dr. Stephan Dallas and the wonderful staff of Southern Care Hospice for their kind care of Doris over the past several months and years. The family is hosting a gathering to remember Doris on Sunday, November 18 from 1 to 3:30 pm, with a remembrance service 1:30-2 pm at the Delta Hotels Marriott Kalamazoo (former Holiday Inn), 2747 South 11th Street, in Kalamazoo, MI. Please visit Doris's webpage for directions, online guest book or to leave a condolence. www.langelands.com