Dorothy "Dot" Ellen Hosford

With the beauty of a new season upon us, Spring is the promise of new growth, new life and a sense of renewal. As the light begins to shine brightly once more, we celebrate the extraordinary life of Dorothy Ellen Hosford.

Dot, as she was known to her friends, was born September 5, 1934 in New York City, the only child of Margaret Slattery Hosford and Patrick J. Hosford. She passed away peacefully on April 10, 2021 in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Dot graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart-91st Street in New York City in 1952 and completed the Business Course at Katharine Gibbs Business School in 1953. She attended Camp Junaluska in Waynesville, North Carolina for 9 years where she excelled at all activities.

After moving to West Palm Beach, Florida, Dot subsequently graduated from Barry College (now Barry University) in Miami, Florida in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Latin and English.

Her amazing teaching career spanned four decades and included positions at St. Ann’s High in West Palm Beach, Florida, Sienna Heights College in Adrain, Michigan, and St. Anne’s High School and Darby Junior High in Fort Smith. She retired in 2000 after teaching for 26 years at Southside High School where she served as the Chairman of the English Department. She always said, “I loved the kids and hated the paperwork!” Her classroom was her studio where she carefully shaped and molded the lives of so many students. She proudly covered every inch of every wall with unusual creations and projects as she encouraged a generation of young people.

Dot was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a lifelong volunteer at St. Edward’s Mercy Hospital and numerous charitable organizations. Her contributions to the community are a lasting tribute to a woman who dedicated her entire life to education.

Dot loved to travel, and in 1973 she and her lifelong best and loyal companion, Antoinette Beland, bought a VW Squareback and spent 10 months driving from Copenhagen, Denmark to Morocco in Africa, a total of 26,000 miles! The absolute adventure of a lifetime. Although she saw the entire world, her favorite place was Lake Tenkiller in Oklahoma, where she and Antoinette retired in 2000. She loved their home, the TICA (“This I Can’t Afford), their boat the TICA-E(This I Can’t Afford-Either) and their Cessna 172 the TIRCA (This I Really Can’t Afford) and truly cherished the happy times spent at Lake Tenkiller. She loved her Irish heritage, a good toddy, an interesting book and celebrating with friends and family.

She is survived by Antoinette Beland, Marge and Benny Doherty, Cookie Hahn, Susan, Meagan, and Katie Gamby, Ann Marie, Rob, and Abby Kaletcher, Margie Johnston-Volosky and numerous other cousins. Dot had an incredibly special place in her heart for the Beland family.

In celebration of her life, a rosary service will be held on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 6 PM at Edwards Funeral Home and the funeral mass will be held Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 10:30 AM at Immaculate Conception Church. A graveside service will follow at Calvary Cemetery immediately following the mass. Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Pall bearers will be Jeff Beauchamp, Hugh Maurras, Duval Johnston, Pat Teague, Wayne Haver, and Jack Green. Honorary Pall Bearers are members of the Ladies Auxiliary at Immaculate Conception Church.

Dot had no time for sadness in her life and would ask the same from everyone now. She was never one to be shy and always one to be colorful. May we fill the church with the vibrant colors of Spring in celebration of her new life and the abundant joy she brought to all our lives.

The family would like to give special thanks to Mercy Hospice and Home Instead Senior Care, especially Lisa Garretson, for the loving care they gave Dot.