Dorothy Mae Sarton Lambert (Dottie), 99, formerly of Raytown and Raymore, MO, died peacefully on September 29, 2022, two days before her 100th birthday, at Maggie’s Place in Overland Park, KS following a season of declining health.
Services will be held on Friday, October 21; Visitation 9am, Service at 10am followed by graveside services. Newcomer's Floral Hills, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City, MO.
Memorial contributions may be made to Fellowship of John Fund at Foxwood Springs (PO Box 701, Raymore MO 64083) or Country Club Christian Church (6101 Ward Parkway, Kansas City MO 64113).
Dottie was born October 1, 1922 in Clarksburg, KY, the third of seven children to Ollie Acle Sarton and Oleta Ethel Hildebrand Sarton. She was the daughter of farmers and the granddaughter of a Kentucky hills horseback roving preacher. After moves from KY to OH to CO, she lived many years in La Junta, CO, graduating from La Junta High School when she was 16 years old.
It was in La Junta that she met and married A. Edward Lambert, Jr. After first meeting Eddie at a New Year’s Eve church social event, she told her younger sister, “Someday I’m going to marry that Ed Lambert.” He was home from college, and then went into the Army. When back in La Junta on leave, he asked his brothers about what a young man does in La Junta, and he was told about Dorothy Lambert’s comments (her younger sister had told one of Ed’s brothers about her comment). Eddie went to the J.J. Newbury’s where Dottie worked behind the cosmetics counter, and asked her about shades of lipstick. Within a few short months, on November 18, 1942 they were married.
Dottie and Ed had several moves after La Junta due to military service, educational pursuits, teaching, and other job opportunities. Those additional states included California, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Oklahoma, Alabama, Alaska, and Missouri. They had three daughters, Lynda Gayle (born in OK), Kathleen Ann (born in AL), and Diana Sue (born in AK).
Bowling and Bridge were some activities Dottie enjoyed. She and Ed had many years with a bridge group that began in their southern California neighborhood with neighbors who became long time friends.
Dottie was a life-long member of the Disciples of Christ (Christian) Church, and she had a quiet but active Christian faith. Dottie and Ed joined Country Club Christian Church, KCMO, in 1972 shortly after moving to Raytown from Oklahoma. Dottie was active with CWF (Christian Women’s Fellowship) and their Sunday School class, the Tri-C’s. Having several family members in pastoral ministry, it was not uncommon that Ed and Dottie formed close friendships with their church ministers through their moves. Having ministers, including previous ministers, visiting in the home or going to their homes was a frequent occurrence.
Dottie stated “homemaker” as her profession. She always put family first, caring for her husband and three daughters, and grandchildren. She was an accomplished seamstress, sewing many of her own and her daughters’ clothes (including matching Christmas morning pajamas, prom dresses, wedding and bridesmaids dresses), and she taught each of her daughters to sew on her old black Singer sewing machine. She began helping out in their southern California church office in the mid-60’s when the secretary would be on vacation, which led to a secondary career as church secretary. While in Oklahoma, she served as the Phillips University Administration Bldg Receptionist, and in the KC area, she served two churches as the church/pastor’s secretary. She was a proficient typist, going at lightning-fast speed with a high degree of accuracy, and she was quick and competent with shorthand.
She loved words. She was an avid reader, especially historical novels, and would exchange books with daughters and friends. She enjoyed word games such as Scrabble (she was a beast!) and crossword puzzles. Dottie was also no stranger to jigsaw puzzles.
Having family and friends around was important; Dottie loved preparing and serving a full dining table. Family attest to her excellence in scratch birthday cake baking, Christmas peanut butter ball making, and pie making for every special occasion. She would always bake pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving, and the one year she forgot to add the sugar led to annual good-natured recounting of the event. Travel usually meant visits to see extended family. These included numerous trips to Colorado to visit Ed and Dottie’s parents, and much time was spent at the family’s favorite spot, an extended family-owned cabin near Estes Park. They also made many trips to daughter Lynda’s family in California and daughter Kathleen’s family in Hawaii. One travel highlight was Dottie and Ed’s trip to Germany and surrounding countries with some of the Lambert brothers and sisters.
In their retirement years, Ed and Dottie moved to Foxwood Springs Senior Living in Raymore. Dottie volunteered with their Fellowship of John Benevolent Fund by working with their jewelry donations/sale and maintaining a section of the Bargain Barn. Ed dove into his love of acting, and Dottie joined him in several Readers Theater productions at churches and community events. A favorite that was often requested was “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” She also did some print modeling and was in a national Wal-Mart commercial.
Dottie is preceded in death by her parents, all of her six siblings, and her husband Ed who died in 2000.
Survivors include her three daughters, Lynda Engel (Huntington Beach, CA), Kathleen (and Bill) Jaeger (Kailua-Kona, HI), and Diana “Di” (and Chuck) Lupton (Olathe, KS); six grandchildren, Scott (and Dana) Glascoe, Derek (and Katie) Glascoe, Maggie Nichols, Travis (and Caroline) Lupton, Kevin Lupton, and Jesse (and Emily) Nichols; thirteen great-grandchildren; and many many extended family members.
The family wishes to express thanks to the Rev. Joe Walker, Minister of Congregational Care at Country Club Christian Church, for his many visits which always brought a smile to Dottie’s face and made her day. They also thank the staff at Maggie’s Place, particularly Angela, Jo, and Laura, for their loving, compassionate, competent care of Dottie in her final weeks as well as their expertise and care extended to her family.
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