Doris Marie Smith (Uhlmann), 86, of Springfield, Missouri passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side in the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 3, 2016 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, MO. Services will be Sunday, November 6, 2016 at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home-Brentwood Chapel, 1947 E. Seminole, Springfield, MO with visitation at 2:00 p.m. followed by funeral services at 3:00 p.m. with a private burial later at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Springfield.

Doris was born March 15, 1930 near Ava, MO in Douglas County to Ernest and Grace Uhlmann.  She graduated from Ava high school before moving to Springfield to attend what is now Missouri State University where she graduated with an Elementary Education degree.  It was while she was teaching at Sherwood Elementary that she met her husband, James (Jim) Smith who was the principal at the time.  They married August 8, 1954. Jim and Doris had one daughter, Laurel Smith, to whom Doris was a caring and devoted mother. Doris loved travelling and the family spent most of their summer vacations camping all over the Western United States in their travel trailer.  Music was also a very important part of Doris' life.  She enjoyed singing in church choirs and playing hand bells at Kingsway United Methodist Church and later at Brentwood Christian Church. She was also a member of the Sweet Adelines chorus for a number of years. Doris retired from the Springfield Public School system after 30 years of enriching the lives of children in her classroom in several schools across Springfield.

Perhaps Doris' greatest joy in life came a little later than she expected, when her daughter and wife adopted their son Kaiden from Guatemala in 2008.  Doris enthusiastically joined them on their trips to visit Kaiden in Guatemala and bring him home.  She absolutely adored spending time with him and it was clear to all that they shared a very special bond. He was the light of her life!  Doris remained active throughout her retirement years, continuing to travel whenever possible, being active in Brentwood Christian church, her Alpha Delta Kappa sorority, and spending time with her family among many other pursuits.  She will always be remembered for her sweet, kind, and loving spirit and someone who brightened the lives of everyone she knew.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Ernie and Grace Uhlmann and her sister, Mildred Hawkins.  She is survived by her brother, Jerry Uhlmann and wife Norma of Jefferson City, MO and their children Jeffrey, Scott and Kirk, and her daughter, Laurel Smith and wife Laura York and grandson Kaiden of Springfield, MO.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Doris' name to: The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, 1131 Boonville, Springfield, MO 65802 (or online at www.supportsps.org ) or the Greater Missouri Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 2400 Bluff Creek Drive, Columbia, MO 65201 (or online https://act.alz.org ) or a charity of your choosing.  Doris will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.