Dorothy Lillian Warner, 94, of Coldwater went to be with her Lord Wednesday, August 14, 2024, holding God’s righteous right hand.
A memorial service will be held Friday, August 30, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater, officiated by Andrew and Hannah Mattson.
Interment will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery in Homer, MI following the service.
A gathering of family and friends will be held from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. prior to the service.
Dorothy was born on December 6, 1929, to William and Mary (Pollack) Morrow at their home in Cozad, Nebraska. She was one of eleven children and held dear the unique relationship she shared with each of her siblings and their children. As a child, her family moved to Colorado and at age 12 she was baptized in the Colorado River. This profession of faith continued throughout the rest of her life.
A strong woman of faith, Dorothy was always toting her Bible around to find scriptures to share with others. While she was not a woman of material wealth, she was always sharing treasured scriptures and nuggets of wisdom that were cherished by those fortunate enough to listen.
As a young woman, Dorothy moved to California and met her future husband, Gerald “Jerry” L. Warner. As the story goes, captivated by her piercing blue eyes and beautiful smile, Jerry dared Dorothy to kiss him. Never one to turn down a dare, but also a woman with a feisty side, she planted one on him and subsequently pushed him into a ditch! They were married July 12, 1952 in Angola, IN. They celebrated 55 wonderful years of marriage.
Dorothy and Jerry loved traveling including cross country road trips in their RV and annual trips to the Kentucky Derby. They brought joy to many families and children by playing Santa & Mrs. Claus at Christmastime. In their 60’s, they opened their home and fostered more than 30 children over the course of 10 years. They made a difference in the lives of many and Dorothy continued to maintain close relationships with many of her foster children up until her death.
Dorothy was a dedicated mother to her five children. She instilled a sense of independence into her children and taught her daughters to cook, clean and keep house. She modeled strength of character and the importance of faith throughout her life. Dorothy loved to entertain and was known to have an open door for guests. She always had the coffee pot on and was ready to gather around the table with friends and family for stories and laughter. Dorothy created a home with an almost magnetic pull and guests always wanted to linger just a little bit longer. She was always up for a glass of wine or a game of dominoes with those she loved.
Her children and grandchildren have fond memories of Christmas gatherings, chocolate parties, and breakfast gatherings with warm waffles and coffee. She loved to stay connected with people by sending cards for important events, spending hours talking on the phone, FaceTiming, and even texting! During the pandemic, she became pen pals with several of her great grandchildren, sending letters, newspaper clippings, and hand drawn cartoons in the mail to stay connected. Dorothy (“Meme” to her grand and great grandchildren) always had a full candy dish, a warm hug and a funny story to share during every visit.
As the matriarch for her family, Dorothy was the keeper of the family history, one rich with interesting characters and humorous anecdotes. She was a prolific storyteller and could captivate her audience for as long as they would listen. No one could tell them quite like Meme, which prompted many requests for her to retell the stories over the years. She granted these requests often and retold her tales with the same enthusiasm and flair as the first time. Some fan favorites include her adventures with a neighbor’s pet monkey and the time she held her own in a fight with a boy who had snagged her favorite sweater.
Really, what made her stories priceless is that they served to honor the memory of those that went before her. For many in the Warner and Morrow families, Dorothy was the closest connection to late loved ones and their memory lived on through her stories. Nieces, nephews, and cousins, now spread all over the country, recently gathered at a family reunion to see their beloved Aunt Dorothy. It was a sight to behold as teary-eyed men and women gathered around Dorothy to hear her share precious stories and memories of their parents and grandparents, many of which they were hearing for the first time. Perhaps the best way to honor Dorothy is to keep telling her stories.
Throughout her life, Dorothy wore many professional hats. She was a paralegal for 15 years at Baker Attorney and Law. After her time at the law office, she and Jerry opened Mother Earth Greenhaus in Union City where she grew and arranged flowers. She also operated a boutique clothing store out of her home for many years.
Dorothy was a lady of many talents and developed a knack for anything she set her mind to. She had a passion for gardening and loved to show her artistic talents through flower arrangement. Well into her 80’s, she helped her grandchildren arrange flowers for their weddings and special events. She was a skilled seamstress and made bridesmaid dresses for her daughters’ weddings and curtains to adorn their new homes. She later would repurpose these skills to make her own hats to showcase as a proud member of the Red Hat Society.
She immersed herself in music and could even play the violin and Spanish guitar. Dorothy found joy in painting and could take anything you gave her (from pumpkins to bird houses) and transform them into a one-of-a-kind work of art. She loved the color purple and featured it prominently in her art, in her home, and even decorating for the holidays.
To say that Dorothy was loved is an understatement. Dorothy was treasured and admired by all who had the privilege of knowing her. She had the gift of making everyone feel loved, valued and special when they were in her presence. Dorothy was considered a surrogate mother, aunt, and Meme by many people she touched throughout her life. She will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved her.
Dorothy is survived by her daughters Veronica Shreve of Union City, Valerie (Brad) Brewer of Union City, Valencia (Mike) Barrett of Coldwater, Verna Warner of Colon; her 20 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and lots of friends she has collected along the way.
In addition to her husband, Dorothy was preceded in death by her son, Blane Warner; 4 sisters; 6 brothers; and her granddaughter, Mandy Hutchins.
Memorials may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
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