Dorthea Pace

Dorthea (Dot) Gertrude Pace, 84, passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, at Montgomery Place in Independence.

Dot's family is planning a celebration of her life to be held at a later date in Independence, Kansas.

Dot was born Oct. 4, 1934, in Neodesha to Everett and Hazel (Willard) Powell. She grew up in Neodesha, graduating from Neodesha High School in 1952.

In 1953, Dot married Joel Stephens, with whom she had three children -- Becky, Gary and Gregg -- all of which were raised in Neodesha. After divorcing Joel, she married DA Pace in 1972, and they remained married until his death in 2007.

While a student at NHS, she worked at the Klock Theater on Main Street. Dot later worked for Pedi-Bears -- a slipper company in Neodesha -- in the early 1960s before beginning a nearly three-decade career at Automotive Control Corporation (ACC). She retired from ACC in 1997.

When her children were small, Dot was a Cub Scout leader and classroom parent. She loved gardening, building elaborate water features in her backyard. She enjoyed reading, and continued to listen to books on tape when small print became difficult in her later years. She was a big fan of Tiger Woods and watched him play golf on TV whenever she could. Braum's hamburgers were a favorite, along with milkshakes, chocolate and Dr. Pepper. In retirement, she traveled with DA in an MG Midget to represent the Masonic Lodge in parades around Kansas and surrounding states. She kept her TV tuned to Hallmark Channel and loved Hallmark movies.

But most of all, she always said her favorite hobby was taking care of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She taught them about unconditional love and genuine kindness. All of them will miss her deeply.

Dot was a member of the First Christian Church in Neodesha, and was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was also a member of the Neodesha Birthday Club.

Dot was preceded in death by her parents Hazel and Everett, her husband DA, sons Gary and Gregg, and brother Jack Powell.

Dot is survived by daughter Becky (Michael) Cox; daughter-in-law Amy Stephens; grandchildren Jennifer (Mike) Edwards, Ryan Cox, Summer Goodman-Sargent, Kelsey (Beth) Smith-Stephens, and Allie Stephens; and great-grandchildren Zoe Edwards, Kaelyn Cox, Connor Cox, Brynnan Sargent, Bryson Sargent, Brody Sargent, and Greycen Smith-Stephens.

She is also survived by stepchildren Dean (Cheri Scheeringa) Pace, Susan (Cary) Roland and Jaime (Kay) Pace; step-grandchildren Dane (Sarah) Pace, Tilir Scheeringa, Chanlier Scheeringa, Cora Sheeringa, Bentley Sheeringa, Nathaniel (Krissann) Roland, Christopher Roland, Colton Roland, Avana Pace, Alysa Pace, and Alexa Pace; and step-great-grandchildren Audric Roland, Khloe Roland, Sadie Roland, Maverick Roland, Domnic Roland, Marcus Cannon, and Theodore Doorn.

Additionally, she leaves behind many other family members, friends and the exceptional nurses who took care of her at Vintage Park/Morningstar Care Homes and Montgomery Place Skilled Nursing.

Dot's kindness was admired by many. In lieu of flowers or monetary contributions, her family asks an act of kindness be shared in her memory.

Online condolences may be left at www.loranfawcettfuneralhome.com.