Dorothy Hollingsworth

Born Dorothy Alice Sievers to Frank and Minna Sievers in Remsen, Iowa on June 28, 1923, and married to Ralph Jerome Hollingsworth on September 11, 1948, her initials, DASH, were so appropriate to the energy with which she approached life. Referred to by her husband simply as Babe, she was called Mom by many more than her four natural children.

Dorothy, her parents, and her older sister, Virginia, moved to Glendale, California in her early years. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in education. She and Ralph moved to Crescent City, California where she taught in the two room school house in Smith River. Four years later they moved to San Pedro, California where she and Ralph raised their children while Ralph taught school. Though not formally employed in those years, Dorothy was the consummate volunteer dedicating untold hours to PTA, the YMCA, the Red Cross, United Way, and AFS (American Field Service).

In 1979 they returned to Crescent City where they lived at Rock Creek Ranch on the south fork of the Smith River. She continued to volunteer with AFS, Christian Women’s Club, and Friends of Del Norte County. She loved living in the midst of the redwoods and spent many hours swimming in the river, gardening and canning, and weaving, knitting, and sewing. They sold their beloved Rock Creek Ranch to the Smith River Alliance in 1999, and it now serves as an educational center welcoming hundreds of students for a day or week at a time.

Dorothy and Ralph moved to Portland, Oregon in 1998, where she lovingly cared for Ralph in his declining health and again jumped right in to volunteering, this time mostly with her church. She spent many an hour at her two local grandson’s activities and travelled often to see her other children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren whenever possible.

The ultimate hostess, she loved to welcome people into her home and make them feel welcome, well fed, and comfortable. Students and adults from all over the world spent anywhere from a couple of days to a year or more living in the Hollingsworth home and truly becoming a part of the family. She continued to correspond with many of them, and one of her last letters was from her Brazilian “son.”

Dorothy’s faith was central to all that she did. She loved hosting Bible studies in her home and serving others in any way possible. 1 Peter 4:9 describes her desire to serve Christ well. “Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you… That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and He’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!” (MSG)

She is survived by her four children Mark Hollingsworth (Nancy), Janell Byrne (Michael), Gayellyn Jacobson, Heidi Mayes (Scott), nine grandchildren Blair Wallace (Jessica), Aaron Hollingsworth (Magali), Joel Hollingsworth (Samantha), Eban Byrne (Jessica), Emily Byrne, William Jacobson, Jerome Jacobson, Michelle Mayes Huskamp (Andrew), Corinne Mayes, and nine great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 21st at 11:00 am at Westside United Methodist Church, 13420 SW Butner Road, Beaverton, OR. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be given to the Smith River Alliance or Westside United Methodist Church.