Dorothy Dee Duncan Dewberry

Dorothy was a long-time resident of Austin, but never lost her Panhandle roots. She came from pioneer stock, which meant she was self-sufficient and hard-working, but always a good neighbor and generous. One great-grandfather was the first lone settler to Floyd County (a hard-scrabble Scot, son of a doctor), paving the way for others for ranching, farming, and town necessities, including being the first judge. Another great-grandfather made the voyage from Norway to Galveston to join other Norwegians in West Texas and the Panhandle to begin new lives. A native Norwegian identified Dorothy, from her physical characteristics, as being from a “west coast tribe” and indeed, genetic testing places her heritage from Tromsø, the ancient seat of Viking rule.

Dorothy was considered “tall” among her classmates at Floydada High School, and she was recruited early on to play basketball. As a Floydada Whirlwind, she played hard and well, and even scored 32 points in one game. Her interest in basketball continued for many years.

Dorothy was brought up in a Christian home, and the Lord answered her prayers when she asked for a good, believing husband, when Bill Dewberry arrived on the scene, a United States Marine from Plainview, visiting from his base in California. That blind date turned into a 63-year marriage. Bill was the love of her life. She faithfully supported Bill during his career with IBM, moving all over Texas, and then to Nevada and California, before finally landing again in Austin to stay.

She was a “numbers” person, preferring Mathematics to other subjects, and this served her well when she worked to help support the family. Before computers, there were special machines used to record data and make calculations in banks, and Dorothy excelled at using these machines. Her trainers ranked her at the top of her class.

Her children benefited from her teachings of many things ranging from practical life skills, such as sewing, to how to navigate life.

Dorothy loved working in the outdoors. It was her happy place. Not only did she spend many hours on her own yard, but also contributed greatly to the grounds landscaping and upkeep at her home church, Northwest Hills United Methodist Church.

Caring for the underprivileged and poor was important to Dorothy. During her time as church secretary for St. Luke’s United Methodist church, she had the opportunity to observe the operations of their food pantry and how the minister there and his parishioners operated it and interacted with the beneficiaries of it. She was inspired to continue that type of work for the rest of her life.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, in 2020. Also preceding her in death were two sisters (as children), Ruth Elaine Duncan and Sonya Jean Duncan (both passing in 1943), and a brother, Silas Edwin Duncan, III. She is survived by one sister, Linda Mendoza of Spur, Texas; and her children, Grace Holland (husband Peter) of Denton, Texas; Brenda Narcomey (husband Kevin) of Menlo Park, California; and Daniel Dewberry (wife Joelle) of Austin, Texas. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Mary Beth Holland of McKinney, Texas; Andrew Narcomey (wife Cristy) of New York City, New York; and Austin Narcomey of New Haven, Connecticut. Dorothy has one great-grandchild, Kira Whelan of McKinney, Texas.

A visitation for Dorothy will be held Monday, September 29, 2025 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752. A funeral service will occur Monday, September 29, 2025 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752. A graveside service will occur Monday, September 29, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery, 14501 North Ih-35, Pflugerville, TX 78660.