Dortha Lee Begley

A graveside service for Dortha Lee (Smith) Begley, 83, former Barnitz Creek area resident, will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Arapaho Cemetery.

Begley died on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at the United Methodist Health Care Center in Clinton.

She was born to George W. and Della (Maynard) Smith on Aug. 3, 1932, in Butler.

She attended school in Arapaho and graduated in 1950.

She continued her education at Southwestern State College in Weatherford, graduating in 1954 with a degree in education.

In 1962, she married William (Bill) F. Begley.

She was an accomplished pianist, and played for churches, groups and gave lessons until recently.

Her first job was teaching music and English at Lake Valley in southeast Washita County.

She also taught in Kansas, California, Oregon and Colorado.  

She eventually returned to Kansas, where she taught for the next 38 years.   

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; a daughter; two sisters, Evelyn and Robina; three brothers, Glen, Chester, and Lawrence; and four nieces and nephews.

She is survived by one brother, Bob Smith and wife Nancy, of Clinton; seven grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and friends.

Services will be officiated by Doyle Kinney, and directed by Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.