Dorothy M. Hopkins

Dorothy Hopkins, a long time resident of Sedalia, Missouri, passed away at her home in Kansas City, Missouri on July 31, 2010 with her family by her side. Dorothy moved to Kansas City after retiring from her career as an interior designer in Sedalia, Missouri, where she resided for over forty years. Although Dorothy was an award winning interior designer, whose clients included Marty Schottenheimer among others, her life before interior design included theater, the arts, radio and television.

After studying acting at the University of Missouri, Dorothy became actively involved in theater groups in Mason City, Iowa, Columbia, Missouri and most notably in Sedalia, Missouri, where she performed as an actress and director. Always eager to work with youth groups, Dorothy often provided her talents to the local high school theatrical productions and became a mentor to many young budding artists.

When Sedalia’s television station first began its broadcasts, Dorothy hosted a number of different programs and became well known for her interviews with a host of notable personalities who passed through Sedalia, including Clint Eastwood, Duke Ellington, Eubie Blake, Thomas Hart Benton, Harry James, Ragtime Bob Darch, Dale Carnegie, Dick Amos, John Glenn, and Broadway producer, Robert Merrill. Perhaps her most satisfying interviews were conducted prior to the establishment of the State Fair Community College, when Dorothy conducted “man on the street” interviews of the citizens of Pettis and Benton Counties regarding their support of the proposal which required voter approval of the legislative measure which established the college. She was proud of the work she did in support of the college and equally proud of her husband, William, who became the college’s first Board of Trustees president and served in that capacity until his death in 1986.

Dorothy’s talents as an actress included her performances in unique one woman shows, which she called “Play Reviews”. Cutting Broadway plays into one-hour productions, Dorothy played the principle characters and sang the most popular show tunes, accompanied by a pianist. Performing some of Broadway’s classics as “The King and I”, “My Fair Lady”, “Mame”, “Gypsy”, “South Pacific” and “The Sound of Music”, news of these extraordinary or one-of-a-kind productions soon spread and Dorothy’s “Play Reviews” were requested by social clubs and civic groups throughout the region. What started out as performing for her friends in their living rooms, culminated in performances at Kansas City’s Music Hall. Dorothy never was paid for any of these remarkable performances, but money raised by the organizations for which she performed was applied to worthwhile and philanthropic causes.

An accomplished artist, studying painting under the renowned Remington Schyler, many of Dorothy’s oils and pastels won awards in exhibitions at the Missouri State Fair. After several years of entering her work, Dorothy was appointed as the state fair’s Superintendent of the Fine Arts Building. During her tenure, the fine arts exhibition space was expanded and award premiums increased.

Dorothy was an avid patron of all the arts and served for five years on the Board of the Missouri Council on the Arts. Dorothy also served on many local boards and was active in various fund raising projects for local charities, including the Sedalia Boys and Girls Club.

Dorothy’s only sibling, Walter Purcey, who played professional baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals during the “gas house gang” days, not only taught his beloved little sister how to throw a fastball, but inspired her to become a great athlete herself, winning many individual trophies for her own accomplishments on the golf course. Dorothy’s enthusiasm for sports in general was expressed being a loyal fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and Mizzou Tigers.

Dorothy was a fierce competitor at the bridge table and loved playing duplicate bridge, participating in local and national tournaments. She was recognized by the American Contract Bridge Association for achieving Bronze Master.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William, and is survived by her son, William II, of Overland Park, KS; daughters, Jill Hopkins of Friday Harbor, Washington, and Cynthia Loveland of Denver Colorado; seven grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

There will be no funeral or memorial service at Dorothy’s request. Condolences can be sent to www.mcgilleymidtownchapel.com. Those wishing to honor Dorothy in lieu of flowers, can make contributions in her name to the Kansas City Repertory Theatre (4825 Troost, Suite 101, Kansas City, MO 64110), State Fair Community College, Sedalia, MO, or to the charity of their choice.