Dara Kaupp

March 15, 1922 – May 26, 2014

Dara Leone Kaupp, 92, passed away May 26, 2014 at Season Health & Rehab in St. George, Utah. Dara was born in Madison, South Dakota to Lillian M. Hanneman and Sherman C. Smith. The Smith family moved to the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in 1928 where Dara and her younger brother Sherman (Bud) Smith grew up and graduated from La Feria High School. As children, Dara and Bud spent much of their time on Padre Island. Dara was fond of animals including her donkey Blindy, horse Charlie, and Capuchin monkey Billy-the-Monk. In the valley stealing watermelons from local farmers was a favorite pastime.

In 1940, Dara, brother Bud, and mother Lillian moved to Los Angeles, California. In 1941 with the outbreak of World War II, Dara went to work in a defense plant; Bud joined the Marines; and Lillian later became a nurse in the WAC's. After the war, Bud Smith graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and then moved to Alaska; Lillian and Dara soon followed. They settled at Cooper Landing on Kenai Lake. In 1953, Dara brought the first public school (and teacher Carl Clemson) to Cooper Landing by obtaining a commitment from local parents to provide heating fuel for the first year and permission for classes to be held in the Cooper Landing Community Club, an accomplishment of which Dara was justly proud.

Dara later moved several times between Alaska, Texas, and Utah. She was a journeyman butcher, a skill she picked up in California before the war. Dara loved to play cards, particularly Pinochle and Cribbage; she would gladly teach you the game, but she always played to win. With a brother and son both of whom were geologist, Dara also had a passion for collecting unusual rocks. In Anchorage, Alaska, after she retired, Dara worked in the Senior Companion Program and tutored immigrants in English as a second language. She moved to Ivins, Utah in 2007 to live with her daughter Lillian and husband Roger Dorcas.

Dara moved to Ivins. But Alaska was always in her heart. With her ability to travel limited by poor health, she enjoyed receiving cards and calls, and most of all visits, from her extended family in Alaska: On the Mitchell side: Michael and Patricia Mitchell (Anchorage); Brian and Elizabeth Mitchell, son Maxton and daughter Lillian (Kodiak); On the Dorcas side: Jason and Lynette Dorcas (Anchorage); Alicia (Dorcas) Knotts and son Devin Willard (Anchorage); Daedra (Dorcas) Doyle and daughters Dareena and Milena (Kenai); On the Smith side: Larry and Cindy Smith and children (Soldotna); Tim and Elise Smith and children (Soldotna); Daniel Smith and children (Soldotna) Pixie Smith and children (Soldotna); Clay Smith (Australia); and best friend Audrey Shepherd (Soldotna).

On her life's journey Dara had three children: Michael Mitchell, Jr. (Anchorage, AK); Lillian (Simmons) Dorcas (Ivins, UT); Sandy (Gorlac) McClintock (Georgetown, DE). She leaves her three children; three grandchildren: Brian S. Mitchell (Kodiak,AK); Michael L. Mitchell (Brownwood, TX); Rachel McClintock (Georgetown, DE); and two great-grandchildren: Maxton and Lillian Mitchell of Kodiak AK.

Dara was preceded in death by her older sister Lorayne (Short) Disney and her brother Bud.

Dara's ashes will be returned to Alaska. But her spirit will be playing cribbage with her brother Bud, she'll be sipping a strawberry milk-shake, and later they will go looking for agates on the beach. Rest in peace Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Aunt Dara.