Charlotte "Doodie" Smith

Charlotte "Doodie" Helen Smith (Tognazzi) was born to Charles Victor Tognazzi and Helen Mary Tognazzi (Ostini) on January 5, 1938, in Santa Maria, California. She joined her older sister, Jeannette (Sainz), at home.

As a little girl growing up on the ranch, Charlotte, better known to everyone as Doodie, and her sister spent many hours playing in the swamp and running through the hills of wildflowers. Shooting stars were always her favorite flower. Ranching was a way of life for her and instilled a deep love for the outdoors. Her garden was enviable for over 70 years. This is also where the phrase “feeding an army” must have originated. Her cooking was legendary, and no one, friend or stranger, ever left hungry.

In 1958, Doodie met Roy Hugh Smith, a local rancher and Korean War veteran. He borrowed a spool of baling wire from Uncle Porfy and met Doodie when he returned later to pay her dad for it. Uncle Porfy and her Mama played matchmaker. After dating for five months, Roy showed up at City Hall, where Doodie worked as a secretary for the City Administrator, and handed her a box with a ring in it. Doodie later remarked with laughter, “It was very romantic. Really something else.” They were married on December 13, 1958. They remained happily married until Roy’s death in 2019.

Roy and Doodie raised their sons, Kenny, born in 1961, and Bobby, born in 1964 on the ranch in Los Alamos.

In 1995, Roy and Doodie moved into the house Roy built in Tepusquet Canyon.

Roy and Doodie were grandparents to Sarah, Shauna, and Kreece. Doodie spent many hours in the kitchen teaching her grandkids a lifelong love of cooking. Her recipes were immortalized in a cookbook compiled by her niece, Denise.

In 2021, Doodie became a great-grandmother to Luke R.H. Maestrejuan, and again in 2024 to Lane K. Maestrejuan.

Doodie moved to Texas in 2023 with her family, where she was able to be cared for as her health declined. She returned to California for a visit in 2024 that became indefinite due to health reasons.

Doodie is survived by her sister, Jeannette Sainz; sons, Kenny (Maureen) Smith and Bobby (Lanette) Smith; grandchildren, Sarah (Jeremiah) Maestrejuan, Shauna (Maxwell) Sanzo, and Kreece Smith; great-grandchildren, Luke and Lane Maestrejuan; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Roy Smith, and her parents, Charles and Helen Tognazzi.

Doodie is also survived by a lifetime of friends who became family over a pot of beans and a mountain of tortillas.

Her celebration of life will be held on May 31, 2025, at the Far Western in Orcutt at 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

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