Dorothy L. Brant

Dorothy L. Brant, 98, Liberty, Missouri passed away August 17, 2015. A celebration of her life will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 21, at Liberty United Methodist Church, 1001 Sunset, Liberty, MO. Private burial will follow the service. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to Corbin Theatre Co, P.O. Box 202, Liberty, MO 64069. Dorothy was born November 30, 1916 to Milton and Nettie Hessell in Arley, MO, where her family settled in 1842, when her great grandfather Conrad Hessell arrived from Germany. She was a 1934 graduate of Liberty High School and a 1967 graduate of William Jewell College. On July 12, 1941 she married Edward T. Brant, Jr. “T”. She traveled widely with “T” during his service as a pilot during WWII. She taught in the Liberty Public Schools for many years, both full time and as a substitute. Dorothy was a member of Liberty United Methodist Church since 1936. She was proud of being a charter member of Chapter IZ of PEO. For over 40 years Dorothy faithfully served as a volunteer at Liberty Hospital. She was also a member of Clay County Museum & Historical Society, Tuesday Bridge Club and Duplicate Bridge Club, and Women’s Association at William Jewell College. She was a loving and devoted wife, caring and supportive mother and grandmother forever proud of her family’s accomplishments, a wonderful friend to many with often a plate of brownies to raise one’s spirits, an inspiring teacher who decades later received thanks from grateful students, an adventurous woman who loved to travel to Alaska, Europe, Australia, as well as Istanbul when she was 90 years old. She was a role model to many on how to live a joyful life. She will be missed by all. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband “T”; sisters, Virginia Stevenson and Betty Symes and brother, Bob Hessell. Survivors include son, Jerry Brant and his wife Lorraine; daughter Joan Belt and her husband Brian; grandsons, Eric Brant and Brian Kelly; great granddaughter, Sloane Belt, great grandson Oskar Belt and several nieces and nephews.