Doris (Dorie) Jean Martin

Until her final breath, Dorie maintained a steady, yet quiet, faith that she would be reunited in heaven with her beloved husband of 41 years, James (Jim) Browning Martin, who unexpectedly passed away on July 28, 1989. Love of family was Dorie’s core value, which she continued to honor as long as her mind and body would allow. She is survived by her son Rick Martin, daughter Sandy Thode, son-in-law Rick Thode, daughter-in-law Terri Martin, her eight grandchildren (Sarah English, Matt Martin, Lauren McDonald, Pat Martin, Daniel Thode, Liz Hockett, Scott Thode, and Jimmy Thode), her 21 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Dorie was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Marie Hatz, and five older siblings: Phyllis Rosenberger, Jim Hatz, Dick Hatz, Betty Milburn, and Glennie Ahern. Dorie was born in Lamar, Iowa, on May 15th, 1930 and spent much of her early childhood in Rodney, Iowa. At age 14, the Hatz family moved to the Waldo neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, where Dorie graduated from Southwest High School at just 16 years old. Even in the final weeks before her death, Dorie would get an undeniable sparkle in her eye at any mention of her much-revered mother, father, and siblings.

Jim and Dorie spent the first year and a half of married life in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Jim was stationed in the Navy. They returned to the Kansas City Area as parents with 6-week-old "Rickey" and started their family life in Raytown. Dorie was a homemaker until both Rick and Sandy started school. She then joined the workforce while still making time to be Cub Scout and Brownie leaders and a room mother for the kids' classrooms. In 1977, Dorie became the office manager in her husband's and son's business, Martin's Prestige Photography, until she retired.

One of Dorie’s gifts was her ability to embrace the simple joys of life— a sunset, a hummingbird, a four-leaf clover, powdered sugar on a strawberry, a perfectly cooked egg, or the subtle squint in the eyes of a smiling face. Dorie also had an unrivaled ability to create special moments. Anyone who has laughed or cried with Dorie or who has held her hand or experienced the sincerest love in her hugs understands this fact, which remained true until the very end. Other interesting notes about Dorie include: good manners were important to her; she had an objectively great taste in music (George Jones, Elvis Presley, and Patsy Cline were some of her favorites); she was a “marvelous” host and cook; and she shot pool left-handed because, well, she was left-handed.

To commemorate Dorie’s life, a private funeral will be held at Newcomer’s Floral Hills Funeral Home in Kansas City, Missouri on Friday, December 8th. Her final resting place will be next to her husband, Jim, at Floral Hills Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Catholic Community Hospice, https://catholiccommunityhospice.com/donations/ or Midwest Animal ResQ, https://www.midwestanimalresq.org/