Dorothy Lucille Provoast

Dorothy Lucille Provoast passed away on September 23rd, 2023, four days after her 87th birthday. She had been valiantly battling lung cancer for the last several months. With the prognosis of the quality of life being limited, she gracefully and peacefully decided to no longer seek future treatment and let the Lord take her home. In the hours before she passed, she was making jokes, singing, laughing, and making sure everyone knew how much she loved them, continually asking if "she forgot anyone." Her husband and family surrounded her, prayed with her, held her, sang to her, and celebrated her until early Saturday morning, she was able to end the fight.

She was born on September 19th, 1936, and raised in Monroe, Wisconsin with 11 siblings. In 1952 she moved to Naperville, IL to live with her sister Charlotte. There she worked as a waitress and one of her customers was Wade Gagel, whom she married in 1959. There she worked at Checkmaster as a supervisor. In 1960 they moved to Seattle, WA where she also worked in a restaurant and gave birth to her son Matthew Mark. In 1961 they moved back to Illinois and her daughter Pennie Sue was born. They moved to Scottsdale, AZ in 1969. There she worked for Hohokam Elementary School until 1972. That was the year her second daughter came along, Dawn Marie. 6 months later she became a waitress again at the diner inside the local Smitty's store. After 4 years she found a new job at Smitty's as a union meat wrapper. That is how she proudly supported herself and her 3 children for the next 20 years because in 1974 Wade left them. In 1990, she met and fell in love with Lloyd Provoast, a retired Navy veteran driving buses for the Scottsdale School District. They were married in 1991. He remains devoted to her and all of her family.

It is an understatement to say Dorothy lived a life full of love. The line between family and friends was rather blurry and frankly, didn't matter that much. She made family members out of friends, neighbors, and co-workers. People adopted her as their "Mom," "Aunt," or "Grandma," regardless of relation. There are countless stories of people she touched returning her love, and her strength was an inspiration to anyone she came in contact with. Any local restaurant that she frequented knew her name, face, and would bring her a diet coke with lemon in a "go cup" before she could ask. She and Lloyd enjoyed spending the summers with her brothers and sisters and all of their family in Monroe. She was the loudest and proudest cheerleader in the room. She was known for calling everyone on their birthday and singing them "Happy Birthday." She loved golf, playing any game with friends and family, and she was forever an unwavering Green Bay Packers fan.

She is survived by her husband, Lloyd Provoast, son Matthew "Mark" Gagel (Michelle Walls), her daughters Pennie (Gordon “Chip”) Kuipers, Dawn (Kirk) Brandon, Connie (Larry) LaForest, Chari Turner, grandchildren Brien (Clark) Burau, Brenton Kuipers, Victoria Brandon, Shane Brandon, and Todd (Mallorie) LaForest, Weston Turner, Cody (Jennifer) Turner, Brian (Kim) LaForest, Eric (Stephanie) LaForest and great grandchildren Lydia, Silas, Areli, and Malia Burau, Lennox and Taytum LaForest, Rogue, Dayton and Graelynn Turner, Jaxon, Molly, Brady, Dylan, and Skyler LaForest. Also, by her sisters Lois Draney, Eva Penniston, Mary Severson, and Nancy Gleason; in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her siblings Janette Robertson, Charlotte Johnson, Burnette Robertson, Goldie Bruegger, Charles "Chuck" Robertson, Orson "Junior" Robertson, and Merle Robertson.

Celebration of Life Open House to be held, October 29th, 2023, 1:00-4:00. SunLand Village East, Mesa Verde Building, 2615 S. Farnsworth Dr., Mesa, AZ 85209.