Deirdre Smith Dabney

AIKEN, SC- DEIRDRE SMITH DABNEY, 68, died Wednesday, February 13, 2013 in Aiken, SC. She is survived by her husband, John Winston Dabney, Aiken, and brothers Michael Graham Smith (Dee Finley) of Naugatuck, CT, and Peter Haig Smith of Hollywood, FL. Also surviving are niece Jennifer Dean Smith (Partner Barbara McGuffey) of Smithton, PA, nephew Graham Hunter Smith (wife Leah) of Raleigh, NC, and great nieces Calla and Sadie Smith. She is also survived by half- brother Christopher Smith (wife Mercy) and their five sons who live in Jacksonville, FL. Deirdre's paternal grandfather, Charles Knox Smith, founded Woodmere Art Gallery (now Woodmere Art Museum) in Chestnut Hill, PA which flourishes today. Originally from Bucks County, PA, Deirdre was a lifelong horsewoman who worked in ten states and at fifteen tracks in her career as a rider of hunters/ jumpers and race horses. When she stopped freelancing, she worked for Gainesway and Spendthrift Farms in KY, then managed thoroughbred sales consignments in Saratoga, Lexington, and South Florida. She moved to Florida in 1984 and worked for Calder Race Course for many years. In 2001 she married her college fiance, John Dabney (U of KY) and in 2006 the Dabneys moved to Aiken. They found a warm community with a wonderful, welcoming group of people from all over. They deemed Aiken the perfect place for old horsemen to retire. If so desired, memorial donations may be made to the ALS Association, 1275 K Street NW Suite 1050 Washington, DC 20005. There will be no service and friends and family are encouraged to celebrate Deirdre's life with personal stories and good cheer. Please visit the online guestbook at www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com SHELLHOUSE-RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Deirdre Smith Dabney, please visit our flower store.