Dorothy Reeder

Dorothy Barbara Reeder was born on February 16, 1921 in Berlin, WI to August and Julia Grota Seaman. She was the youngest of seven children. She left this earth and walked into the loving arms of our Lord and Savior on March 12, 2018. Dorothy was a graduate of St. Agnes School of Nursing and served our country as a United States Navy Nurse. While stationed in Seattle, WA she met the love of her life, John L. Reeder, Jr., a wounded Marine. John and Dorothy married March 7, 1944.

Dorothy was preceded in death by: husband, John (1990), her son-in-law, Lloyd (2005), and grandson, Todd (2015).

To this union seven children were born and God blessed them with our Janet, 14 Grandchildren & 12 great-grandchildren.

John L. III and wife Cynthia.

Ann Marie.

Barbara Rosenfelder and husband Lloyd, their children and grandchildren: Todd, Mark and his wife Angela, and their children, Luke and Avery, and Ryan, his wife Hannah and their daughter Hadley.

Mary Elizabeth, her daughter Dorothy and her husband Sean Wiese.

Mike and wife Mary, their children and grandchild, Michael and his wife Lauren, and daughter Sloane, Brian, and Amy Rayford and her husband Matt.

Becky Blair and husband Frankie, and their children: Phillip Adams, his wife Hillary and daughters, Ryan and Lillian, Ben Adams and his children, Mason and Isabelle. Katy Ibanez, her husband Luis and daughters Elicia and Addison.

Sarah Whitaker and husband Charles, their daughters, Ruby Whitaker and her partner Brandon Rice, and Jessica Whitaker.

Janet Tareilo and husband Kirk and daughters, Amanda Bomar her husband Cory and children Ezra and Eisley and Jenny Tareilo.

And special friends Anthony and Suzie Tatom.

Dorothy was a loving wife, giving mother, caring sister and aunt, and also served the family through the years as Grandma, Gran-Gran, Little Lady, Bubbles, and The Queen Mother. Because of her belief that one should be a friend at all times, she never met a stranger. When you were with her, she made you feel as if you were the most important person at that moment.

Dorothy touched the lives of people for 75 years as a registered nurse, from Berlin, WI, to Seattle, WA, to Dallas, TX, and beyond. She ministered to patients suffering from polio at Parkland Memorial Hospital. She helped open the first Intensive Care Unit at Methodist Hospital and ended her nursing career by serving as the Director of Nursing at Cliff Towers Nursing Home and then at the Four Seasons Nursing Facility.

She retired from Blue Cross Blue Shield as a nurse auditor when Ashlee was born or took family leave and never went back. They told her she could not take off and she said, “that she was going to be there for her daughter and grandchild” and Big John said, “Hell Dorothy, just retire!” so she did.

Her passion for giving back was seen in many activities that centered on helping others. Through her 25+ years dedication to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Silver Leaves Program, well into her 80’s she provided transportation for those who could no longer drive. She helped organize and coordinate daily meals for the priests at the church. Serving on the Parish Council of Immaculate Conception and chairing parish festivals were also honors she held dear. She willingly served St Cecilia Catholic Parish and school for 40+ years.

She was a 60 year survivor of cancer and witnessed to the healing power of Our Precious Savior. She participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and helped to raise money for a cure. She was the block chairman for The American Heart Association, Multiple Sclerosis, March of Dimes and many others.

Memorial donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society-Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 610 NE 17th Street, Grand Prairie, Texas 75050. It was important to feed the poor as well as minister to the sick, so if you would like to do this please do. Thank you for wanting to remember her.