Kathleen Dorothy Nettleton Masterson

She had just enjoyed a happy Easter with family.

Dorothy was born on June 1, 1934, in East Orange, New Jersey, to Douglas Arthur Nettleton and Kathleen Lucretia Kiernan. She found her way to Texas at the age of 10, moving into the house in Highland Park where she passed away. She attended John S. Armstrong Elementary School and Highland Park High School (HPHS). She met her husband while playing bridge at a Greek mixer at Southern Methodist University (SMU) - their first grand slam! She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from SMU with a BA in English and a BA/MA in History with a thesis about F. Scott Fitzgerald. She performed in many SMU plays and was a stellar character actress. While still attending SMU, Dorothy married Bill (Wilmer Dallam Masterson III), a dashing young law student.

Dorothy’s lifelong loves included her family (in particular her grand and great grandbabies), gardening (she grew champion level azaleas and roses), writing (she wrote a novel), travel (one of her greatest loves) and social activism. The day before her passing, she was laughing while playing with her great granddaughter Rhoads. Her garden was well known to those who lived nearby and was featured in a book entitled Great American Suburbs: The Homes of the Park Cities, Dallas. After losing her mother at a young age, she ended up taking care of many older single women and wrote books about them. She enjoyed travelling throughout her lifetime and travelled to many places others had not: Haiti in the 1960s, Russia in the 1970s, China in the 1980s. She enjoyed many trips to Scotland to see her grandchildren play bagpipes and drums. She made a wonderful trip to France with her son Tony and other family members. Her last trip was in 2018 to Japan with her daughter Bess’s family – she was leading the pack hiking up hills in hot weather, shaming those younger than herself.

Dorothy was a gorgeous and brilliant woman who devoted herself to the betterment of society, just like her hero Eleanor Roosevelt. Education and academics were very important to her: she taught at HPISD and then taught American History at Richland College for many years. At Richland, she encouraged lively debates and had fun parties at her house for her students. She was involved with political issues through the League of Women Voters. Wanting to help with the issue of homelessness in Dallas, she formed what later became a United Way Agency, the Housing Crisis Center. Through her work, she enabled many families to keep their housing and ran a housing shelter for families with children. In 2000 Rick Perry presented her with the Governor’s Volunteer Lonestar Achievement Award. In 2002 Dorothy and Bill founded the Museum of Geometric and MADI Art, bringing many modern artists and artwork into the Dallas area. Her lifetime of volunteer work was recognized in 2008 when she received the HPHS Distinguished Alumni Award.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, Bill, and by her eldest son, Wilmer Dallam Masterson IV, his wife, Coleen, and their children Wilmer Dallam Masterson V and his wife Mary, Joseph (deceased), Kathleen Wadkins, her husband Travis and their daughter Rhoads, Anthony, James and Mark; her son Anthony Douglas Masterson, his wife, Charlene, and his children Lauren, her son Ryker Parke, Kelly and Holly; her daughter Bess Masterson Mattei and her husband Joe, son Matthew and daughter Kathleen.

Private services will be held.