Dorothy R. (Bee) Pape of Edmond, OK, and long-time Oklahoma City resident, passed away suddenly on Friday, July 29, 2011. Born in Ft. Smith, Arkansas on October 14, 1928, she was a local Montessori pioneer and taught at Casady School for 35 years. At her time of death, she headed Montessori teacher education at Oklahoma City University, and was a 2011 finalist for the American Montessori Society Living Legend Award.

Bee was a life-long learner and loved her family, children, grandchildren and great-grand children. She was proceeded in death by her husband, Bob Pape. She is survived by her children: William R. Pape of Santa Fe, NM; Sarah Pape Hester of McKinney, TX and Susan Pape Peacock of Edmond, OK. Grandchildren include: David and Amanda Hester, Julia and Anna Peacock, and great-grandchildren Alexander and Alena Wohl of Louisville, CO. Daughters Sarah and Susan are active dressage competitors, as well as graduate pony clubbers. Susan is a professional show secretary, and grand-daughters Julia and Amanda are active dressage competitors. Amanda just received her D3 Pony Club rating with the Dallas Pony Club, and Julia has received numerous USDF year end awards.

Bee was active in horse event management for over 50 years. From pony club rallies, to combined training events, H/J shows, dressage shows and clinics, Bee was there, getting volunteers, fine-tuning management and making sure everything was running to make competitors and volunteers happy. Bee and her deceased husband, Bob, managed the first recognized combined training events in Oklahoma in the 1960s. They were instrumental in upgrading the quality of recognized Hunter/Jumper shows in Oklahoma. Also, Bee and Bob managed the Insilco Dressage show in 1981 (held in Okla. City) that offered the first head to head national dressage competition. They also were managers of the equestrian portion of the Olympic Festival held in Okla. City in 1989. In addition, Bee and Bob founded and were D.C.s of the first United States Pony Club chapter in Oklahoma in the 1960s: The Cimarron Pony Club. In 2002 Bee was named Horse Person of the Year by the United States Dressage Federation for Region 9.

Bee will be best remembered for her “can-do” attitude and her willingness to take on any challenge. She was a mentor and inspiration for generations of students and horse enthusiasts and will be greatly missed. Memorials should be sent to: the U.S. Dressage Federation, Region 9 at usdfregion9.org; the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at www.jdrfdallas.org; the American Montessori Society Living Legend Award at www.amshq.org; or to Pambe Ghana at www.pambeghana.org.