Obituary of Dorothy Bollen

Dorothy Mae (Dot) Smith Bollen, of 1700 NE Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach, FL., passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2009 in Stuart, FL.

Mrs Bollen, the widow of Martin County pioneer family member Donovan Smith, Jr. was 85.

Dorothy was born on November 25, 1923 and was the second of four children born to Sally Virginia Winn and James Bennett Ferris in Ranger, Texas.

Dorothy was raised in Ranger, Texas and graduated from Ranger High School in 1941.

Upon the death of her father in 1944, Dorothy left Texas and relocated to California with her mother and her sister Mary.

Dorothy and Mary attended a USO dance soon thereafter, where they both met their future husbands, handsome Navy sailors and best friends, on the same night.

On January 25, 1946, Dorothy married her sailor, Donovan Smith Jr. of Port Salerno, FL. Within a year, she and Donovan headed for Martin County, FL, finally settling in Port Salerno, FL.

Dorothy became a Mom in 1957 upon the arrival of their daughter, Donna Marie.

Their second daughter, Druann, was born in 1963.

Dorothy and Donovan welcomed their first beloved granddaughter, Jessi Marie, into the family in 1982.

Dorothy worked at the Martin County Courthouse in the Tax Assesor's office for over 20 years, where she operated the office's first computer system.

Upon her retirement, Dorothy was a data entry supervisor and oversaw the maintenance of data that determined Martin County's property tax base.

Upon retiring, Dorothy and Donovan traveled the USA, visiting friends and family from Tallahasee to Texas and California.

Dorothy was predeceased by her husband, Donovan, on February 13, 1990.

Her sister Mary passed away in California in 1991, leaving that other handsome sailor from the USO dance all alone

On New Year's Eve 1991, Dorothy married Grady (Gene) Bollen, her sister Mary's widower, becoming a newlywed for the second time.

Dorothy and Gene eventually visited every world continent together, with many adventures in between including traveling, gardening and enjoying their life together with family and friends.

Dorothy is survived by her loving husband, Grady (Gene) Bollen, of Jensen Beach, FL., her daughters, Donna Marie Smith of Orlando, FL: Druann Carter of Stuart, FL., Linda Giles of El Monte, CA., her son Michael Bollen, of El Monte, CA., her granddaughters, Jessi Marie Smith of Stuart, FL., Kelly Figueroa and Shannon Giles, both of El Monte, CA her sister, Ella Joy Brewer of Wildomar, CA., several nieces and nephews and many friends and extended family.

She was predeceased by her parents, her first husband, Donovan Smith Jr; her brother James F Ferris and her sister, Mary Bollen.

The family will receive visitors on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at Forest Hills Funeral Home, 2001 SW Murphy Road, Palm City, FL from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

A celebration of Dorothy's life will be held at Forest Hills Funeral Home, 2001 SW Murphy Road, Palm City, FL on Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:00 am.

Forest Hills Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Palm City Chapel 772-287-8484, is in charge of arrangements.