Doreen Hurd Smith, thirty year resident of Elkins Lake, Huntsville TX, passed away at age 92 on June 21, 2023 in Houston, TX after several years of declining health. Doreen was born in Stoke-On-Trent, England on November 11, 1930, the eldest of two daughters born to James Hurd and Alice Latham Hurd. All the nurses wanted to name her Poppy in honor of England’s Armistice Day, but thankfully her mother was not persuaded. After attending British school as a left-handed student in a mandatory right-handed world, she had no interest in further schooling so at age 14, she went to work for Royal Doulton China where she discovered she was quite talented at painting Toby mugs. As a teen, she loved ballroom dancing and would hop on her friend’s motorcycle to arrive home just before curfew. She worked for Royal Doulton until she married the love of her life, Andrew Douglass Smith, on March 18, 1954 at the age of 23. His proposal came by mail (along with money for cooking lessons) since Douglass was working overseas. As a new bride in Turkey, she learned a completely new way of life. Despite all the cookery classes, they ate a lot of blackened food because the Turkish ovens lacked thermostats. From the local wives, she learned how to cook using wax paper as a thermostat and could soon make a perfect English meal.
Relocation became commonplace in Doreen’s marriage, which included 4 different countries with at least 40 moves total. In 1962, they emigrated from England with two small children, Susan and Andrew, to North America, living several places in Canada before finally settling in the US. With the average stay at 1-2 years per place, Doreen devoted her time to being a wife, full-time mother, and move coordinator. Doreen was an expert at making friends in every new place and maintained many lifetime friendships through letters and phone calls. Once her children were older, Doreen operated a movable home-based business, D & D Ceramics, where she taught lessons and sold many beautiful pieces to her clients. In 1980, she decided it was time to return to the workforce and worked in various gift shops till she found a work home as a full-time manager of a Crabtree and Evelyn store in Denver, CO where her British accent served her well.
In 1992, Doreen and her husband retired to Texas to be closer to their six grandchildren and joined the Elkins Lake community in 1993. Accepting that golfing was not her passion despite her best efforts, Doreen poured her time and energy into many volunteer opportunities when she wasn’t busy with her grandchildren. In 1995, she joined the Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary and volunteered weekly in the gift shop, racking up 4,841 hours of service till the pandemic shutdown in March 2020, just several months shy of her 90th birthday. An avid exerciser since age 40, Doreen decided to try the water aerobics program at the Elkins Lake pool even though she could not swim a stroke. When the instructor was unable to continue, Doreen said she would help out and became a volunteer instructor (only in water where she could touch) 4 days a week for ~20 summers. She participated for many years with the Prime Time Dancers, a line dancing group that performs at nursing homes and fairs in the area. Doreen was an active member of the First United Methodist Church-Huntsville where she attended services and often baked or crafted for their annual bizarre. She also helped out at many of the children events at St. Matthew United Methodist where her Houston grandchildren attended. She was an avid accomplished knitter and made many legacy items for her grandchildren. Her annual gifts for neighbors and friends were homemade English goodies. Bringing joy and a helping hand to others was Doreen’s passion. She loved life in Elkins Lake and decided she never wanted to move again.
Doreen is survived by her sister, Sylvia Foster of Derby England and family, her daughter Susan Smith Porterfield (Larry) of Houston TX, her son Andrew Smith of Kennedale, TX, her six grandchildren; Drew Smith (Nicole), Laura Irle (Jason), Colleen Smith, Eliza Porterfield (Scott Roman), Leah Bowers (Josh), Trent Porterfield, and her 5 great grandchildren; Anabelle, Andrew and Allison Smith, Mabrey and Ridge Irle. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 2:00 pm at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 4300 N. Shepherd Blvd, Houston, TX. A British Tea reception will follow. All are welcome to attend.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17