Dorothy Wertz Mitchell

Dorothy was born on May 29, 1931, to Forest E. and Evelyn J. Wertz in Borger, Texas. She attended schools in White Oak, Gladewater and graduating from Kilgore High School and then Kilgore College. Dorothy met Henry E. Mitchell on Easter Sunday at Eastview Baptist Church in 1948. They married a year later in 1949 and moved with Henry’s company Tidewater Oil to Cayuga, Texas. From Texas, they moved to south Louisiana with their two baby girls. Dorothy loved being at home with her girls, however with Terry in school and Linda starting she had the opportunity to work for Lee and Leon Oil Company at the mouth of the Mississippi River in Venice. From then on, she was known as “Mrs. Dot”! East Texas was HOME and in 1976 they had the opportunity to move back to Kilgore. Dorothy went to work for Lloyd Bolding, owner of Acid Engineering where she worked for many years. She retired so she and Henry could enjoy traveling. They loved their Motor Home and Fifth Wheel Trailers, allowing them to tour the United States at their leisure. Their three-month trip to Alaska was a highlight! Dorothy also kept books for Evelyn Bolding, Susie Anthony, and Carl Clower, when they independently owned Expression Gifts.
Dorothy was a Christian making her profession of Faith as a young girl and being Baptized at Eastview Baptist Church. After moving back to east Texas, she became a member of Forest Home Baptist Church. Her favorite bible verse was Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Dorothy played the piano and often would go from the Baptist Church to the Presbyterian Church all in an hour’s time so that both congregations could have a musical instrument played. During her lunchtime she would go to Kilgore Nursing Home and play the piano for the residents. After retirement, she enjoyed volunteering at The Depot in Kilgore.
There was hardly a task that Dorothy would not attempt to do. She was an excellent seamstress and made most of the girl’s dresses growing up. She even sewed for Henry’s four sisters and Donna Elwood, because all dresses needed to be hemmed. If you drove to their home, you would probably find her in her greenhouse, planting flowers or in the garden. That is, if Henry didn’t have her in his woodshop helping him with a project, or cooking dinner for friends that he invited without her prior OK. However, it was OK, because Henry always invited someone for dinner, or a holiday meal and many friendships developed at their table.
Dorothy was very proud of her Cherokee Indian heritage. She had the interest of visiting cemeteries before the internet was available to do research for her genealogy books and sharing this interest with many cousins and friends. She loved hosting a cousins’ reunion every year, so they could “compare notes”! Dorothy was also proud to be a 50-year Member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She held the office of Worthy Matron and many other chairs.
Dorothy was known as Grammer to her Grandchildren and they each had their own special relationship with her. Grant was her first, and even when he shot her flowerpots with his BB gun, we don’t think he received a spanking. Tanner enjoyed shelling peas with Grammar, because his Mother, never let him do “fun” things like that. But his most special memories were while attending Louisiana Tech, he would come to Kilgore for the weekend to study and “fill up” on Grammer’s Chicken and Dumplings. Tate loved spending time on the hill with his Grammar and Paw.Paw. Once he “adopted” a dog and Grammar went all the way back to town just to get Spot food so Tate could feed him. When Grammar caught Maggie jumping on her bed, she knew that was a No No, however when Maggie explained that she was doing an LSU cheer, somehow, it was OK. If you ever went to Dorothy’s and she wasn’t home, it was because she was visiting in Louisiana so she could see her precious great grands, Avery and Nolan.
Yes, it’s true, both of her sons-in-law are named Darrell and they loved her with all their hearts. Even when Darrell I accidently glued her hands together with Super Glue, she just laughed and said it would wear off. Then there is Darrell II, the Chef, who kept her full of his good cooking and served her coffee in her favorite cup.
And how can we leave out friends? Dorothy was wonderful at writing letters and keeping in touch before life was as easy as a text, a cell phone or an e-mail. Betty Renshaw and Dorothy have been friends since childhood and married cousins. Were you lucky enough to receive a handwritten note from Dorothy in her beautiful script? If so, save it, they are becoming a thing of the past. A special friend, Lili Gomez, came into our lives and became her dear friend also. Dorothy and Lili loved shopping, eating out and getting manicures.
Last, she was the Best Mother two daughters could have. If it was driving us to practice, athletics, band, cheerleading, GA’s, Girl Scouts, she would make sure we were there. Daddy always called us, Terry and Linda “Geaux” Mitchell, but truth be known, Dorothy liked to “geaux” too. Thank you, Mother, for giving us such a wonderful foundation. We will forever recall the precious memories we have of you and will treasure your love always.