March 8, 1937 – February 11, 2022
Dorothy Jane (Smith) Phifer was born on March 8, 1937 to Royal Austin Smith and Mildred Helen (Powell) Smith in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She was welcomed home by her older brother Billy Smith (who has preceded her in death). She attended William Rogers High school and later attended Oklahoma State University. In 1962, she met the love of her life, Frank Stancil Phifer, on a blind date.
They enjoyed water skiing and spending time with each other before they welcomed their one and only child, Dena Christine Phifer (Hubert) in 1967.
In 1976 the family of three moved from Santa Maria to Modesto for job purposes where Dorothy continued to reside for the remainder of her life. She devoted her life to Christ after the tragic loss of her husband in 1980.
She was a faithful member of Modesto Covenant Church where she worked as secretary for 17 years, taught Sunday school, was a part of the Deaconess Ministry and so much more.
Her favorite part of her life was being a Grandma to Addison, Max, and Mckenna. She helped raise her grandchildren as her own and they were her greatest joys. She loved spending time with her church ladies every Monday morning, getting medium root beer float frozen yogurt from Yogurt Mill every Wednesday, and any time that she got to spend with her daughter and grandchildren.
She is survived by Dena (Ritch), Addison, Maxwell, Mckenna (Reid), and her precious dog, Annie. We find joy that she is in heaven with her savior, her husband, and her beloved late family members.
A celebration of Dorothy’s Life will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, February 26, at Modesto Covenant Church, 913 Floyd Ave in Modesto. Burial will be private at Lakewood Memorial Park.
The service will be streamed online at the church website mcclife.net
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Radiant Covenant Church at radcov.org under “GIVE.” Dorothy was very excited about this new Covenant Church supported by her home church Modesto Covenant Church.
Leave a Condolence