Kaye Smith, DVM, 86, of St. Louis, Missouri, passed away peacefully in her home, Friday, February 18, 2022, with life partner of 47 years, Marge Chockley, and their faithful companion Buttercup by her side. She was born November 27, 1935, in Louisville, Kentucky to John M. and Katherine M. Smith.

Kaye was most proud of her career as a Veterinarian, having graduated with her Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas in 1965. She often remarked that she graduated during a time when there were few female Veterinarians. Historical records note the many obstacles experienced by pioneering female Veterinarians in a field dominated by men, noting in 1964 there were only 277 female Veterinarian graduates. Kaye’s Veterinarian career included serving as Post Doctoral, Lab Animal Medicine and Pathology, University of California, 1968-72; Director, Rilamsat, Federal Government, 1972-73; Director, Lab Animal Care, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, 1973-88; Director Laboratory Animal Resource and Associate Professor, Zoology, Southern Illinois University, 1989-99. Career highlights included receiving numerous research grants and authoring/co-authoring various book chapters and journal publications. Kaye retired from her successful career in 1999, holding professional/lifetime memberships with the American Medical Veterinary Association, American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, and American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners.

Kaye’s civic interests included being a lifetime member of the Humane Society of Missouri, a volunteer at St. Louis AARP Information Center, a member of the Creve Coeur Democratic Club, and a member and supporter of various national and local environmental and animal welfare organizations. Kaye’s hobbies included gem and rock collecting, fishing, playing bridge, piloting her small engine plane, and traveling.

A Celebration of Life honoring Kaye will be held on March 12th, 2022, at 2 pm at Peace United Church of Christ, 204 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves, Missouri 63119. Interment will be at Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, KY, on a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift honoring Kaye can be made to the Humane Society of Missouri:

Online:

https://www.hsmo.org/tributes-memorials/

By Phone:

To donate to the Humane Society of Missouri by phone, call 314.951.1542.

By Mail: 

Human Society of Missouri

Attn: Donations

1201 Macklind Ave. 

St. Louis, MO 63110