The Family Names

Doris Smemoe (1911-1999) Doris Mary (Neeley) Smemoe was born in Salt Lake City on September 21, 1911 and passed away on January 14, 1999. Her ancestors were some of the original pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley. Her parents were Willard and Hannah (Atkinson) Neeley.

She moved to California where she met and married Lorenz Richard Smemoe on November 7, 1942 in Reno, NV. They were sealed for time and all eternity on June 15, 1959 in the Salt Lake Temple. They served 3 Stake Missions while living in Castro Valley, CA. They had one son, Martin, who along with his wife, Carol, live in Owasso, Oklahoma. Doris moved from California to Missouri, then moved to Sapulpa and then Owasso, Oklahoma.

Doris served in the past as a Relief Society President, Gospel Doctrine Teacher, and Relief Society Secretary (when her hearing deteriorated, they called an assistant so she could keep that calling). She liked doing geneaology until computers became used extensively with geneaology. She loved to sew, knit, and was a GOOD cook. Lorenz died in 1967, and rather than feeling sorry for herself, she learned to drive at the age of 55, brushed up on her secretarial skills, and went to work to take care of her son and herself.

Later on, she want on many Church BYU Educational Tours to all the church historical sites, Washington DC, and went on tours with her son Martin. She led a full life and set a good example for others. We are going to miss her, but we know that she was welcomed by many ancestors, especially her husband and will be waiting to greet us as we cross the veil.