Dorothy Jean Smallwood

Born and raised at the family farmhouse in Huntley, Wy., her parents, John Sr. and Lydia Schwartzkopf, instilled the values of faith and hard work. She loved school and was active in varied activities including 4-H, choir, band, school leadership ……. She was also active in her church youth group and Sunday school as both a student and later a treasurer reporting to the congregation.

Immediately upon graduating from Huntley H.S. in 1954 she moved to Denver, CO and began studying at and graduated from Central Business College. Her excellent skills and work ethic made it easy for her to find jobs. Over her lifetime her favorite jobs were at Continental Oil Company, The Denver, and Phelps Dodge/Western Nuclear. She enjoyed being involved in the world of high-end fashion at the Denver where she worked with two Division Managers, many buyers, marketing personnel and vendors, and those in the executive offices. At Phelps Dodge/Western Nuclear she enjoyed working with people from all over the world and learning the many nuances in scheduling overseas travel to destinations which were often remote. There, she would also enjoy traveling to their corporate offices in Phoenix as well as varied mines in Arizona and Nevada.

She met Robert D. Smallwood (Bob) in 1955 and they later married in her hometown church in Torrington, WY in April, 1958. They enjoyed short trips to Las Vegas where they went to shows and she was queen of the original one-armed bandits. They loved playing cards with friends and hosting employees working with Bob if they were away from home on the holidays. Bob adored her parents and loved to make her mother laugh whenever they could be together. Dorothy and Bob resided in the Denver area where they raised two children. Most vacations would be incorporated with Bob’s work at Trailways. Stopping in many towns along the way Bob would check in with local employees while Dorothy and the kids would wander until he joined them and the real exploration and laughter would take over.

Dorothy loved Eastern Star and was active for much of her adult life. She also enjoyed cake decorating, crafting fun things for baby & bridal showers, as well as decorating many things using her large set of Tri-Chem paints. She embraced presiding as Queen over her chapter of the Red Hats Society making unique pins and decorations for her chapter members. It was then she traveled to places she always wanted to go like The Rose Parade, visiting the Reagan Library, and strolling the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Dorothy is survived by daughter Peggy (Dennis), son Eric; grandchildren Ashley (Brian), Robyn (Nick), Mackenzie, Ainsley, and Breckin; great-grandchildren Cameron, Vincent, and Evelyn.

She was preceeded in death by her parents, husband Bob (1983), brothers John, Jr., Ruben, and Don Schwartzkopf, sister Esther Ring, nieces Carol and Judith Schwartzkopf, nephews Glenn and William Schwartzkopf, and great-grandnephews Taylor Magdaleno and Jett Schwartzkopf, also numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.