Smiles C. Dunn

Smiles C. Dunn was born in 1928 in Vernon, Texas. Her parents talked so much about how pretty her smiles were that the nurses thought that was her name and that is what ended up on her birth certificate. Her family moved to Dallas where she spent her teenage years and graduated from Crozier Tech High school. She fell in love with John Toney, and they married in 1946 after he returned from WWII. Together they had their son, Douglas. They divorced and later she married Otis Click. Otis unexpectedly passed away and, after several years, she met Melvin Dunn. Mel was retired from the Air Force, and they toured the country in an RV where they found a cute little town in Colorado called Ouray. They lived there for a few years until Smile’s mother, “Honey” moved in with them. The climate in Ridgway was a little friendlier for her mother, so they bought an old victorian house there and settled into the community. Mel served on the planning commission for Ridgway and Smiles helped restore the Sherbino Theater. Smiles is survived by her son Douglas Toney, stepdaughter Teri Williams, granddaughter Christina Peteet, great-grandchildren Savannah, Ella, Burton, George, and Archer. Smiles was preceded in death by her mother and father Barney and Golda Iona Gilbreth and her husband Mel, sisters Mae Dell, Lela Opal, Virginia, Jeannine, Phyllis, and brother Barney Elwood. She was also preceded in death by her granddaughter Dawn Pendarvis, and stepdaughters Shelly Johnson and Denise Daniels.

 A memorial service will be held at the Sherbino Theater in Ridgway, CO on September 28, 2024, at 3 PM.