Bessie Lou Smith Dobson, 87, of Denton, Texas passed away on September 22, 2021.

Bessie Lou Smith Dobson was born in Floyd, Texas on December 1, 1933 to Haynes Bell and Hinda Bumpass Smith. She was the youngest of their nine children, born twenty years after her oldest sister. When Bessie was three years old her family moved to Denton, Texas so that her older brothers and sisters would be able to attend college.

Five years after moving to Denton, during the great depression when Bessie was only eight years old her father died suddenly of a heart attack. This was a devastating moment in Bessie's life that forever changed her family.

After the death of her father, and during the depression, the family farm was lost and her family moved to a home in town on the corner of what is now University Drive and Elm Street. Bessie's older brothers and sisters worked and joined the military in order to help their mother and younger siblings make ends meet.  Even though her family had very little money Bessie said she never felt poor and her mother never turned away anyone coming to their door asking for food. There was an incredible bond between Bessie and her eight older siblings that lasted throughout their lives. She often talked about how she worshipped her older brothers and sisters and one of her greatest joys in life was spending time with them.

Bessie attended TWU Demonstration school from Kindergarten through 5 ^th grade. For 6 ^th grade she attended Northward, a Denton public school and then went on to graduate from Denton High School.

At age 17 Bessie met Buddy Ford Dobson on the Courthouse square in Denton. Two years later they married on June 28, 1952 at the Little Chapel in the Woods on the TWU campus.

In 1954 she graduated from TSCW (now Texas Woman's University) with a Bachelor's Degree in education. Bessie Lou taught one year at Shadow Lawn for Denton ISD and then substitute taught for several years while her children were young. She was PTA president at Stonewall Jackson and Woodrow Wilson Elementary schools before being hired as a First Grade Teacher at Wilson in 1967. She taught first and third grade at Wilson for twenty years before retiring in 1988. She was a member of the Denton Classroom Teachers Association, Texas State Teachers Association and the National Education Association.

Mrs. Dobson was known as a stern but loving teacher. Those that were not her students were intimidated by her height and the fact that even if you weren't her student and were doing something wrong she would let you know about it, but those in her classroom loved her. She once told the story of finding one of her students with his head down on the lunch table crying. When she asked him why he was crying he said, "they say you are mean and you're NOT mean!" She was happy when teachers got to have duty free lunch time but was also sad because she said lunch time was when she found out the most about her "kids" and the time she enjoyed them the most. She worked hard at being a good teacher and loved teaching.  After her retirement she couldn't stay away from the classroom and volunteered in her grandson Heath's classrooms.

Bessie was baptized at First Baptist Church in Denton as a child. She was also a member of Grace Temple Baptist Church and Gateway United Baptist Church. Bessie was a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority for many years. She was also a member of the Early Automotive Car Club in Denton, the Green Valley Cemetery Association, Green Valley Historical Society, and helped with the renovation efforts to restore the Green Valley School. Bessie collected and saved a great deal of history and photographs about the Green Valley School and set up a small museum located inside the school after it was renovated. She also volunteered at the Denton Historical Museum. She was a lifelong Democrat.

Bessie was a teacher, but if she wouldn't have been a teacher she would have been a nurse. She was one of those people who knew exactly what to do when someone was sick to make them feel better. It may have been a cool washcloth on your forehead, a heating pad, a massage, Vick's salve or just sitting quietly to see what you might need, she always knew what to do. She was there for so many in times of illness.

Bessie liked shopping, clothes, jewelry, having a beautifully decorated home and antiques. She was a wonderful cook but hated to cook and didn't if she didn't have to. She wasn't afraid to give her opinion, believed in honesty, and always doing the right thing. She believed in the Golden Rule and helping those less fortunate. She felt no need to travel very far from home because home was her favorite place to be. She spent the last days of her life in her favorite place- at home, surrounded by her family, with a wonderful view of the pond and beautiful place that she and Buddy created.

Bessie was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, teacher, and friend. Her love for her family and being with family meant the most to her.

Bessie was preceded in death by her parents, five sisters- Louise Graham, Vern L. Smith, Sue Murphy, Jeanette Balentine, and Peggy Kelly; three brothers- Haynes (Boy) Smith, Bill Smith, and Joe Smith.

Bessie is survived by Buddy, her husband of 69 years, her three children, four grandchildren, and one great grandchild all located in Denton.

Son, Donnie Dobson and daughter-in-law Nancy Dobson, their two daughters Megan Dobson (Christian Garza), and Jennifer Salazar (Jesse Salazar). Daughter, Susie Autry, her son Heath Autry (Allison Autry), and great grandchild Tatum Hayes Autry born September 14, 2021. Daughter, Brenda Ashley (Wes Tilley), and her daughter Caitlyn Ashley.

Bessie is also survived by brother-in-law Howard Kelly, sister-in-law Evelyn Smith, many beloved nieces, nephews and friends.

The family will receive friends for visitation at 1:00 pm prior to the service at 2:00 pm on Saturday September 25, 2021 at Gateway United Baptist Church located at 2401 N. Bell Ave Denton, Texas 76209. Graveside services following at Green Valley Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Denton Public School Foundation or the Green Valley Cemetery Association.

Donations may be made at this link: https://bessiedobson.givesmart.com

Friends text to 76278 to donate also.