Dorothy Smith

Madison - Dorothy Higgins Smith, age 104, of Middleton, died on Friday, June 1, 2012, at Attic Angels Place, Middleton. Dorothy was born in Rockford, Illinois, on October 12, 1907, the daughter of Anna Ryan Higgins and John Sylvester Higgins. She graduated from St. Thomas High School in 1925 and was a secretary at Emerson Braningham, Sheets-Rockford Silver Plate, and General Electric in Rockford. She married Robert William Smith on March 24, 1935. They moved to Madison in 1939 when he joined Red Dot Foods where he was vice president of manufacturing. In 1957 he founded Fordem Company, a packaging manufacturer that was sold to DRG PLC in 1982. Dorothy is survived by their four children: Judy (Duane) Richards of Lodi, Jay (Patricia) of Middleton, Jerome (Kathleen) of Verona, and Jeffery (Genevieve) of Shorewood; and seven grandchildren, Leslie of Lodi, Laurie of Middleton, Jason of Madison, Brynna of Middleton, Sean of Verona, Vincent of Paris, France, and Claire of Poulsbo, Wash.; and eight great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1987, her brothers Clifford, Robert and John, and her sisters Catherine, Margaret, and Rosemary. She will be missed greatly by her family and many friends. A loving wife and mother, she will be remembered for her easy smile, positive outlook, and ever-present Irish-American mirth. In 1942 Dorothy joined the Nakoma Country Club where she played golf for forty years. She was also an avid bridge player. She was a long-time member of Our Lady Queen of Peace church. A private family burial will be held at Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum. The family would like to thank the caring staff and volunteers at Attic Angels where she had lived since 1996. Memorials may be made to Attic Angels Employee Appreciation Fund, 8301 Old Sauk Rd. Middleton, WI 53562.