Rose Maude (Self) Smith, 85, died peacefully at home on Aug. 28. She was born July 30, 1932, in Falfa, Colo., on the Self Ranch to Howard C. and Florence M. (Rea) Self, longtime residents of Florida Mesa. Rose was the middle child with older brothers Charles and Ivan and younger brother LeRoy and sister Elaine.
During her younger years she lived on Florida Mesa attending Orr School and Durango High School. She married Haron A. (Bill) Smith on Aug. 13, 1949, in Aztec, N.M. They owned their own seismograph drilling company and traveled extensively with oil-related business for 20 years before they settled in Shattuck, Okla., in 1969. Rose owned and operated the Tiara Beauty Shop for 30 years and was active in the Shattuck community. When she moved to Pagosa Springs in 1998, Rose volunteered at the elementary school, the Humane Society, Chamber of Commerce and Chimney Rock Interpretive Association. Her hobbies included traveling, hiking, needlework and gardening and always had beautiful yards everywhere she lived.
Rose is survived by her brother, LeRoy Self, and his wife, Gisela, of Middle Mesa, N.M.; her sister-in-law, Rosalee (Smith) Spradling, of Jacksboro, Texas; and her two daughters, Lynnis and Kristine and their husbands, John Steinert and Larry Stone. Her grandchildren are David Steinert, Justin Stone and Sanci (Stone) Hall, along with five precious great-grandchildren, Abby, Hannah and Lydia Stone, and Elizabeth and Zane Hall. She has several cousins, nieces and nephews both in Colorado and in Texas. Rose was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill and her brothers, Charles and Ivan, and her sister, Elaine.
A celebration of Rose’s life will be held at the Hood Mortuary in Durango, Colo., on Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. Interment will be at the Florida Mesa Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Chimney Rock Interpretive Association, P.O. Box 1662, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147.
