Obituary of Katherine Maloney Smith

Katherine Maloney Smith (“Kiki”), 92, died Wednesday, March 28, 2018.Kiki was born on August 14, 1925 in Fort Worth, TX to Eugene Pitt and Mary Elizabeth (Maloney) Smith. After graduating from Rice University in 1945 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Kike enjoyed a prosperous career working in Fort Worth, most notably for Texas Refinery Corporation and The Rowan Company.Kiki delighted in her family, friends and the city of Fort Worth. She was active in the Fort Worth Community Theatre and had starring roles in many productions. She was a member of the St. Patrick Altar Society, the Carmelite Auxiliary, the Fort Worth Symphony League, the Tarrant County Historical Society, the Kimbell Art Museum and the Amon Carter Museum. She loved reading, dancing, cross-country skiing, admiring the wildflowers, walking on the beach, and watching the birds. The perfect hostess, Kiki loved to entertain, making every occasion special and ordinary events worth celebrating. A passionate traveler, she explored much of this planet, most often accompanied by her dearest friend, Drake Benthall.Her favorite quotation was from William Purkey and is sound advice for all of us:“Dance like no one is watching, Love like you’ll never by hurt, Sing like no one is listening, Live like it’s heaven on earth.”Kiki was preceded in death by her parents, by her brothers Alfred and Michael, by her sister Mary Elizabeth Finn., by her brother-in-law Pat Finn, by her sisters-in-law Isabel Smith and Hazel Smith, and by her nephew Kevin Finn.She is survived by her brother, E. Pitt Smith, Jr.; sister-in-law, Sue Smith; nephew Alfred (Buck) Smith (Heather); nephew John Smith (Frances); nephew Michael Smith (Corry); niece Katherine Smith; niece Mary Finn Gillilan (Bill); nephew Joe Finn (Bobbie); niece Briddy Finn Simeroth (Mark); nephew Michael Finn (Deborah), and a passel of grand nieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews.