Kansas City, MO: Dolores Louise (Smith) Hook passed peacefully from this life May 10, 2024, in Liberty Hospital, Liberty, Missouri. She was 93 years, 3 months, and 6 days of age at her passing.
Dolores, was born February 4, 1931, near Martinsville, Missouri the third child of Manford Harry Smith and Myrtle Elizabeth (Baker) Smith, and grew up on her parents’ farm north of Martinsville in Harrison County, Missouri. She grew up alongside her sisters and brother: Evelyn, Virginia (Robert), and Royce (Colleen), as well as many extended family members. Dolores loved her family and her life growing up on the farm. She would often recount her experiences to her children and grandchildren, delighting them with funny stories, teaching with practical stories, and impacting with the stories of life lessons. She attended Muddy Valley school and attended and graduated from Martinsville High School.
Dolores married Daryl Gayle Hook in 1953. They lived briefly in St. Joseph, Missouri then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota when Gayle secured employment with Jefferson Bus Lines. They moved to Claycomo, Missouri in 1955 and, except for a two-year period living in Des Moines, Ia., made Claycomo their home for 67 years. The prized habits of hard work and service cultivated in her childhood never left her. She worked long hours with determination and grit, building a home and nurturing a sense of belonging that her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren cherished for many years.
Dolores was a member of McMurry United Methodist Church in Claycomo, Missouri. She was a member of the Willing Workers class and participated for many years providing service to the Church and the community. In the later years her passion, as a member of Quickie Quilts, was making quilts for the homeless. Working with donated materials, often scrap pieces, she would tirelessly put the fabric together to make the prettiest quilt possible. An excellent seamstress with many years of making the family clothes, her seams would be perfect: pressed and trimmed as if making the quilts for her family. And, according to her quilting group, Heaven forbids someone glued rather than stitched a seam.
Dolores was never still. She raised a huge garden, canned the family food, sewed the family clothes, raised beautiful flower gardens, cooked fabulous meals, and made the best cinnamon rolls. Her relaxation was handiwork; creating beautiful counted cross stitched, embroidered, crocheted, and knitted items. Dolores and Gayle traveled extensively visiting all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, most of Europe, and Scandinavia.
She was preceded in death by so many family and friends including her parents, siblings, in-laws, daughter-in-law, Shawna Hook and her husband and partner of 69 years, Daryl Gayle Hook.
Dolores is survived by her children Deborah (Steve) Crossley, Thomas (Beth) Hook, Warren Hook and former daughter-in-law Pamela Hook, sister-in-law Colleen Smith, and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. Dolores has many grandchildren: Sarah Hook, Coleman Hook (Megan), Caleb Crossley (Sarah), Collin Crossley (Ashley), Ransom Hook, Sarah Lynn Crossley, and Aaron Crossley (Laura). Her great-grandchildren are Ethan, Evelyn, Hudson, Amelia, Carter, Harrison, Stella, Noah, Isai, and Elin.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 18, at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. Burial will follow in the Kidwell Cemetery, Martinsville, MO. The family will receive friends from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Kidwell Cemetery and/or Wesley Chapel Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com