Dorothy Ann Self

November 17, 1944 – August 3, 2025

Dorothy Ann Self (Ball), beloved mother, grandmother, and sister, passed away peacefully at the age of 80 in Texarkana, Texas, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, tenacity, and sharp wit.

Dorothy was born and raised in El Dorado, Arkansas, later moving to Morgan City, Louisiana, where she graduated from Patterson High School. Her family later returned to El Dorado, where her parents owned the local ice cream soda shop and bakery, “The Sweet Shop.” Dorothy married her former husband, Thomas Glen Boswell, Jr., in 1964, and together they raised four children in Foreman, AR until they moved to Texarkana, TX in 1976. She later had a brief second marriage to James Self.

Dorothy was the proud mother of three children, stepmother to one, cherished grandmother to five, and adored great-grandmother to four. Her family was her greatest joy. A devoted mother, she ensured there was always a hot breakfast in the morning and a homemade dinner each night, consistently leading by example and instilling the value of hard work in all her children. She brought boundless joy to every holiday, going all out with decorations, costumes, Easter baskets, and gifts–especially for Easter, Halloween, and Christmas-and no matter the family’s financial situation, she always made her home feel abundant in love. In the later years of her life, she shared daily phone calls with her children, especially her daughter, and her warm, familiar voice on the other end of the line will be deeply missed. With her son, Mike, and daughter-in-law, Marcy, nearby, Dorothy never had to worry, as they always ensured she was well taken care of and never alone.

As a young woman, Dorothy began her career as a bank teller in El Dorado, AR before managing retail stores and eventually launching a long and accomplished career in real estate and property management across Arkansas, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Minnesota. Dorothy made her professional mark as a realtor for over 25 years in Texas and Arkansas and later managed large multifamily properties in some of the country’s most beautiful coastal towns, blending her career with her great love of the beach. She was known in her career for her friendliness, honesty, and fearsome work ethic and only retired reluctantly when her eyesight began to fail.

A true southern woman, she was an excellent cook and gardener. Her father was a professional chef and baker, and Dorothy inherited his great talent in the kitchen. She often showed her love for her family by preparing hearty meals, including her famous Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole, which was counted as a vegetable but was certainly dessert; when asked for measurements for sugar and butter, she often laughingly said to “eyeball it” as if she didn’t understand the question. Her chicken and dumplings remain her daughter’s favorite comfort food, and many memories were made teaching her grandchildren how to properly fry chicken and make real gravy. Her thumb was a vibrant shade of green, and she could grow anything and loved to work in her yard and garden in her free time. Her house was always filled with plants and flowers, and she took great care to give each one the time and attention they demanded.

She loved the Lord and wanted to make sure everyone else did too. Her most faithful caregiver of more than seven years, Marcella Canida, was a loving spiritual companion, sharing long conversations about their faith—especially in Dorothy’s final days. Dorothy truly loved her and cherished their friendship. Her longest and dearest friend of more than 30 years, Irene Pickett, stood by Dorothy through it all, sharing prayers and reminiscing about the many years of cherished memories they had together.

Dorothy had a spirit as vibrant as the coastlines she loved. She enjoyed lounging on a beach in Kauai, cruising around the Caribbean, and reading a really good book. A woman who came of age in the swingin’ sixties, she loved Elvis Presley, and even in her last days, she only wanted to hear Elvis’ gospel songs on repeat. There was nothing she loved more than spirited afternoons spent battling over dominoes or cards and the thrill of losing a coin or two at the slot machines, always with a competitive spark in her blue eyes and a big smile on her face. Her sweet demeanor hid a serious competitive streak as her grandchildren often learned on family vacations over a hand of cards. Her grandchildren imagine it is hard to “beat the house” in heaven, but if anyone can do it, their money is on Grandma D.

She had a deep love for animals, especially dogs, and in her retirement, she devoted much of her time to volunteering with foster animals and guiding them through the adoption process. Over the years, she adopted several beloved dogs, including Trixie and Angel, as well as one cat—Cougar, named somewhat begrudgingly by her young grandchildren. She always looked forward to the day she would be reunited with her furry companions in heaven.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents, Helen Louise Ball (Allen), and Forrest Noel Ball; her oldest sister, Linda Camell (Maurice); her beloved brother, Billy Ball Sr. (Trula); and her stepson Thomas Stone Boswell. She is survived by her children: Michael Boswell (Marcy) of Texarkana, TX; Stacy Boswell Sullins (Pat) of Arlington, TX; and Samuel Boswell (Michelle) of Destin, FL; grandchildren Corinne Sullins Davis (Rob) of Houston, TX; Hogan Sullins (Shelby) of Arlington, TX; Parker Sullins (Kate) of Galveston, TX; Austin Boswell of Lubbock, TX; Shelby Boswell of Fremont, NE; and great-grandchildren Sage and Noah Sullins and Hudson and Patrick Davis. Dorothy is also survived by her devoted baby sister, Cindy Mixer (Keith) of Texarkana, TX. Over the years, Cindy was not only her sister’s closest companion but also her most frequent challenger in countless games of cards and dominoes. In the final months of Dorothy's life, Cindy was by her side nearly every day, and it was with Cindy’s loving presence that Dorothy peacefully went to be with the Lord—just as they both had hoped.

A private memorial will be held by the family later. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Dorothy’s memory by playing your favorite card game with your family the next time you visit the ocean-or by volunteering or donating to a local animal adoption or rescue organization.