Doris Lorraine (Bush) Smith December 5, 1951 ~ September 3, 2026 (age 74)

A memorial service for Doris Smith will be held on Sunday, September 6th, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 1101 W 18th, Portales, NM 88130.

Doris Lorraine Smith, age 75, went to be with the Lord on September 3rd, 2026. Doris lived a full life full of family, crafting, Mountain Dew Code Red, and a whole lot of love for her children and grandchildren. Doris was born in Portales, NM on December 5th, 1951 to Joe and Vernetta Bush. Doris was one of the first babies born at Roosevelt County Hospital. Doris worked at Pat’s Twin Cronnie starting in high school. She loved Pat’s so much that even recently, if she had a visitor, they had to bring her a cheese stick. Doris graduated from Portales High School in 1969.

After high school, she continued working at Pat’s until she had an opportunity to work at the hospital as a receptionist. While working at the hospital, she gave birth to two ornery little boys. Jim and Joey were her pride and joys. She loved them with all of her heart, and everyone who knew Doris knew that.

Even though she had two sons, she also had two special girls in her life. Sharon “Ruthie” and Norma Nell were both basically adopted by Doris or “Heifer” as Sharon called her.

Doris decided to pursue a career and attended Eastern New Mexico University, where she graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. As a teacher, she taught for 20 years at small schools in Texas. She taught at Three Way and Bovina until she was able to enjoy her well-deserved retirement.

In retirement years, she resided in the Portales area, and her focus was always on her grandkids. Other things that filled Doris’s retirement days were crocheting and sewing. She would crochet blankets for all the new babies in the family.  Doris enjoyed playing dominos and other tabletop games with her family.

Doris is preceded in death by: Joe Lee and Vernetta Rose Bush, granddaughters Carri LaDawn Smith and Carnation Hope Smith.

Doris is survived by her sons James “Jim” K Smith and wife Missy Smith, Joe K Smith. Grandchildren Justin K Smith, Jeremiah “Kenny” Smith, Harmony Smith, Gage Pepper, little Justin Smith, John Smith, Abi Smith, Bryson Smith, great-granddaughters Azelea and Jasmine.  Brother James Lee Bush and wife Linda Bush, bonus daughters Sharon “Ruthie” Buckley and husband Buck Buckley and Norma Nell and husband Ricardo, best friend Kathy Lea Hill, as well as several nieces and nephews.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Doris Lorraine (Bush) Smith, please visit our floral store.