Dorothy Wise Looney

Dorothy Ellen Wise Looney, aged 94, died peacefully on May 4, 2018 at her home on Pine Island, Florida. Dorothy was born September 23, 1923, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Jesse James Wise and Adela Knecht Wise.

Dorothy, the fifth of six children was a 1941 graduate of Center high School in suburban Kansas City, Missouri. She was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature and language in 1945, and a Master’s Degree in education in 1947 from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. During the forties and fifties, Dorothy taught high school English for 15 years in Missouri, ten at Belton High School, and five at Center High School in suburban Kansas City.

Dorothy married Joe Bill Looney, her loving husband of 58 years July 31, 1949 in Kansas City, Missouri. Joe Bill and Dorothy settled in Belton Missouri where they built their family home together. This home presently houses the community center in Belton Memorial Park.

Dorothy loved to be involved in her community and civic duties, serving as president on such boards as the local and district PTA, The Belton Historical Society, The United Way Campaign, The Belton Garden Club, along with being an active member of the Belton Christian Church, where she taught adult Sunday School classes.

She retired in 1986 from the Belton Star Herald, where she had been employed for 16 years as advertising designer. During that time, she published a year-long series of ads, encouraging readers to visit spots in Missouri “less than a tank of gas away from Belton,” for which she was presented the “Muleskinner Award” by the Missouri Department of Tourism.

At age 73 Dorothy became an accomplished water color artist, painting beautiful landscapes and wildlife scenes around her homes in Missouri and Pine Island Florida. Joe Bill and Dorothy eventually retired full time to Pine Island, Florida and many can remember how they both traveled to the yearly art shows in Matlacha Florida, where her paintings of Pine Island landscapes would quickly sell out.

Dorothy especially loved to paint pictures of her great grand-children for family, and her paintings adorn the homes of family, friends, and clients in more than 15 states.

Joe Bill preceded Dorothy in death May 21st, 2007. Shortly after Joe Bill passed, and never one to sit around, Dorothy began volunteering at the Pine Island United Methodist Church, becoming a regular face at numerous events, Bible studies, and working the office one day a week. She especially loved to help with communion preparation and just recently had become a member of the Church.

Dorothy is survived by a son Joel Willard Looney (wife Carla), daughter Joyce Elyna Looney Vest (husband Haskell), three grandsons (Haskell III, Justin, Joseph), six great grand-children (Viktoria, Hannah, Emma, Wyatt, Tyler, and Carter).

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorial contributions to Pine Island United Methodist Church, 5701 Pine Island Rd. Bokeelia, Florida 33922.