Dorothy was born on Jan. 14, 1920, in Frontenac to Emma Jane and Harry E. Smith. She grew up on a farm south of St. Paul on the Big Island. Growing up, everyone worked hard, long hours, and all of the area families helped each other with whatever needed to be done. Dorothy graduated from Parsons High School and attended Parsons Junior College and Parsons Business College before moving to Chanute.
Dancing was always a big thing in her family, and they had dances on Saturday nights, just about anywhere. After moving to Chanute, she met Bill Slane, who loved music, and she took him to a dance in the Blacksmith Shop in South Mound. That dance led to a romance that lasted over 70 years. Dorothy and Bill were married in San Diego on June 6, l942, while Bill was serving in the Navy.
After moving back to Chanute, Dorothy worked in several businesses as a secretary and several years with Martin Tractor Co. and then began working at Mid America Refining Co., where she worked for 25 years. In retirement, she worked for optometrists Dr. James Kensett, Dr. Bill Vietti and Dr. Dwight Blackwood, participated in senior exercise classes and attended Neosho County Community College, especially enjoying the woodworking classes offered there.
She was involved in many volunteer activities around the Chanute community such as RSVP Chanute High School greeters, American Red Cross, Girl Scouts of America, First United Methodist Church and the Chanute Tree Board Committee. She was always very supportive of progressive programs within the community and enjoyed gardening, sewing, playing cards and shopping. She and her husband, Bill, who preceded her in death, shared many wonderful vacations over the years to sites such as Hawaii, Alaska, Yellowstone, Mexico and Europe. Her coffee groups were a major highlight in her later years.
Dorothy’s fashion sense was always young and active. She was often viewed as a classy lady and asked to participate in fashion shows in the community. These invitations always brought a smile, causing her to remember that she had come a long way from that little farm girl on the Big Island, although even then, she was referred to as a lady.
She is preceded in death by her father, Harry E. Smith; her mother, Emma Jane Smith; her husband, William S. Slane; two brothers, Bob and Bill Smith; a brother-in-law, Kenneth Slane; and a mother-in-law, Hazel Slane.
She is survived by her son, Dan (Dorie) Slane, Chanute; daughter, Nancy Washburn (Wayne), Liberty, Mo.; son, Steve (Tamara) Slane, Chanute; six grandchildren, Jenny (Eric) Duld, Shawnee, Lori (Ryan) Dermody, Bishop, Calif., Jeff and Amy Slane, Chanute, Matt and Mitch Washburn, Austin, Texas; three great-grandchildren, John Duld, Hunter and Reagan Dermody; sister, Janie (Van) Swanson, The Villages, Fla.; sister-in-law, Irene Smith, Erie; sister-in-law, Theresa Smith, St. Paul; and many nieces and nephews.
The service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Chanute. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel in Chanute.
Memorials in her name may be made to the USD 413 Foundation and may be left with the funeral home.
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