Dorothy Jean Baston

Dorothy Jean Baston was born in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, March 25, 1924, to the union of Irvin C. Baston and Bertha A. Dysart. She was the youngest child of five, three brothers, and one sister, who have all passed on. Dorothy departed this life on April 30, 2025, after a lengthy 101 years on this earth.

Dorothy received her early education from Young Elementary and High School in Independence, Missouri. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education in 1946 at Lincoln University an (HBCU) in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Soon after graduating from college, Dorothy headed to Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was employed in the Office of the Registrar where she worked for several years and ultimately upgraded her position to Director of Admissions & Records of the Law School. She retired in August of 1977 but continued to work for several private law offices in Baton Rouge until 1989.

Dorothy was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; she was a member of the Baton Rouge Legal Secretaries Association. She enjoyed playing golf, was a member of the Rougettes Bowling League. She enjoyed traveling and found pleasure in planting flowers at her home, and in later years would go on morning walks with friends to maintain her health. Most of all, she had a passion for operating her Ham Radio, obtaining her license and communicating with people around the world.

Dorothy exemplified a true Christian spirit and took pride in her membership and church family at First Presbyterian Church of Scotlandville in Louisiana. She remained a loyal and devoted member even after she returned to Missouri in 2012. Being a devoted child of God, she attended New Zion Missionary Baptist Church after arriving in Kansas City.

She leaves to cherish her memory nieces and nephews, Leroy Curtis & Verlinder Baston, Ronald Baston, Charles Irving & Deborah Baston, Anthony Baston, Tyretha Baston, Janice Baston Lee (Saginaw Michigan), William & Laurrette Banks (Kansas City, KS), Jacquelyn Slaughter (Kansas City, MO), adopted niece Loretta Patterson, (Carson California). Cousins, Bonnie Simmons, Leon Dixon, Jackie Baston and many more relatives and friends.