Dorothy was the beloved wife of the late Daniel L. Hartney; cherished mother of Colleen (Michael) Kelly and Daniel (Carol) Hartney; beloved grandma of Rene' (Lee) Freeman, Sean (Kiara) Kelly, Daniel Kelly, and the late Ellen (Chris) Schmidt; loving great-grandmother of Katie Schmidt, Zach Bodway, Declan Kelly, and Daegan Kelly; dear aunt, great-aunt, great-great aunt, and a friend to many.
Dorothy was an avid reader of biographies and fiction, and had a very large collection of books. She loved watching Turner Classic movies, and her favorites were "Waterloo Bridge" and "Rebecca." Dorothy was a long time bookkeeper of the City of St. Louis Water Department. She was a loving and attentive caregiver to her husband during his illness.
She was a lifelong resident of the City of St. Louis, born and raised on Menard with her three brothers and two sisters, Bill, George, John, Helen, and Tillie. Dorothy shared the same birthdate with child star Shirley Temple, who was all the rage. Dorothy was a very sickly child, who lost her hair and became deaf in one ear. Her mother would always say, "Look at Shirley Temple and then look at 'poor little Dorothy.'" They were an extremely close knit family, raised by their widowed mother, but as she said, "We never knew we were poor."
She loved the city! In her youth she spent many happy hours playing basketball at the Soulard Market courts. She attended Lafayette Grade School and McKinley High School. She met her husband, Dan, on the baseball field by Hog and Frogs, and they eloped in January of 1952. Together they raised their two kids on Victor Street in the city. She was active in her children's activities and parish life at St. Francis de Sales. Dorothy loved to entertain, hosting holidays and barbeques, surrounded by her large, extended family.
As a grandma, "Dart" was second to none! She was the provider of unconditional love and stability. In her grandchildren's eyes she embodied resilience, intelligence, grace, and strength. Her love of family gatherings enriched the lives of all in attendance with priceless memories and cherished family bonds. Dart’s legacy rich in wisdom and values is sure to be passed down for generations to come.
Friends and family are invited to gather at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary, 6464 Chippewa Street, St. Louis MO 63109 on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 10am to greet the family. A Memorial Service will follow at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or Alzheimer's Association are greatly appreciated by the family.
