Della D. Doty

Della was born July 12, 1913 in Nianda, Jones County , Texas , the fourth of nine children of Sydney Claud Dean and Mary Emily Bristow Dean.

She was preceded in death by her parents, by her brothers, William Jeff Dean, Hill Edmond Dean, and Douglas Donald Dean, and sisters, Nora Elizabeth Dean May, Cecil Claud Dean Kingston, Marjorie Violet Dean Lewis, Thelma Charlene Dean Escue , and dear friend and sister in Christ, Jennella V. Fancher of Hollis , Oklahoma ..

Survivors include her husband, Ronald Gilbert (Ron) Doty, her stepson Bill Henry of Durango, Colorado, her sister, Carol Janet Dean Baker Gregory of San Angelo, numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved very much, and some very dear friends including Gloria VanZandt of Arlington, and Rosemary Starr, and Rose Doyle of San Angelo.

Della was born and raised on a farm on the West Texas plains. Before she was old enough to help with the farm work, she was given the task of riding a gentle horse to get the mail some mile and a half from home. In time, she joined the older children in the fields, but her only lure to the croplands was the hope of finding another baby rabbit, or maybe a terrapin or ground squirrel - just anything to add to her collection of wild pets. She always remembered the enjoyment of ranging the countryside on her horse when chores were done. Della accepted Jesus as Savior at a brush arbor revival when she was nine years old.

After high school, Della attended Sul Ross University . She taught school, then worked in Flight Dispatch at American Airlines at Meacham Field, Fort Worth before moving to Arizona . There she opened and operated a Western Wear Store with her cousin, Fanny Lou Kingston Robinson, catering to clients from the dude ranches in that area.. Later she returned to Texas where her love and talent of sewing and of fashions led her to Bauder Fashion college in Arlington , graduating with top marks. She then opened The Cover Story, a resale shop where she enjoyed a rewarding service to those who bought as well as to those who sold, many of whom were fashion models. It was at this time that Della met Ron, who had bought a house across from her. After a period of getting to know and to fall in love, they were married at the Waxahatchie, Texas courthouse on May 29, 1985 . Della closed her shop, and they moved into a home they purchased in Arlington . After Ron retired in 1991, they moved to Las Cruces , New Mexico . In 2001 they returned to Texas and settled in San Angelo .

Della was a Baptist, faithful to her Lord throughout her lifetime. Della loved Texas and was intensely loyal and would defend to the end all that was hers: her family, her state, her country, her church, her political party, and even her cat.

There will be a short memorial service conducted by Reverend Neal Brillhart at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in San Angelo on Thursday, September 16.

at 10.00 A.M.

Arrangements under the direction of Johnson's Funeral Home, San Angelo, TX.