Delores Dean Smith

Delores Dean Smith passed from this life to her heavenly home at the age of 85 on January 11, 2022, after several years of suffering from Alzheimer's. She was born Delores Dean Hinken on October 16, 1936 in Sedalia, MO. The daughter of Esther Elizabeth Ditzfield and Willie Elmer Hinken, she was the youngest of 7 children and by her own admission, enjoyed the love and affection that likely appeared to most outsiders as being "spoiled". She remembered often the thoughtful ways her siblings cared for her. The new dresses that Ruby and Bernice brought her from Scott's Five and Dime; the many postcards that Nelson (Bud) sent her during WWII and Cord sent during weekends out of town are a testament to their love. Brother Billy played guitar and sang, and she often listened to cassette tapes she had made of the times they sang together. She spoke often of her family's love, how her brother-in-law Bill McGee taught her to drive and after she received her license, her brother Billy loaned her his new Chevy to drive. Martha was her sister who was the closest in age and it was Martha who introduced her to the Christian Church, where she started attending and gave her heart to Jesus. Though Dean always had a heart for her Methodist upbringing, she was the first to love people no matter their faith belief. In her early years she was known as "Dean", though she talked often of the hurt feelings of so many that teased her for having a boy's name. So, in her late 30's when she found herself single again, she started going by "Dee".

Desiring adventure, she married George M. Wilkie at the ripe age of 18, and she soon left MO for the life of a service-man's wife. Their 18-year marriage gave her 3 children: Mary Elizabeth, Margaret Ann and George Mark (Jr.) Bouncing back from life's ups and downs, she later married Charles (Chuck) F. Smith whom she loved until the day she passed on. They were married for 37 years and resided in Covington, WA. She enjoyed people and using her bookkeeping skills she and Chuck operated Riteway Gas Service for many years. They shared a love for country music, dancing and traveling in their RV. Though Chuck preceded her in death by almost 10 years, her love for him never waned. Delores' biggest grief was the loss of a child - Margaret (Maggy) passed away at the age of 27 from a car accident in 1987. Delores leaves behind her children Mary Campos (Marcos Campos) and Mark Wilkie (Penny Loan), two grandchildren Rebecca Xczar (Kyle Deming) and Mario Campos (Becky Campos) and five great-grandchildren, Ti Deming, Mateo Campos, Elora Campos, Vera Campos and Nomi Campos. Our lives were blessed to be loved by Delores and she will be forever missed.