Dorothy Lou Tarver

Dory was born on September 28th, 1953, in Heidelberg, Germany, to James Wally Tarver of Brookhaven, Mississippi, and Margot Sonja Baumann, of Heidelberg.

Dory attended UNO where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. She continued her education at Loyola University where she received her law degree, and where she also served on the law review board. A tireless champion of others, she was proudest of her pro bono immigration work. She was a lover of old movies, traveling to exotic places, and classic rock, especially The Rolling Stones, and the music of the Rat Pack (particularly at Christmas time). Dory moved to the United States as a child, first to Mississippi then later to the New Orleans area when her father became a union organizer in the city. She marched with the Daughters of Lir in the Irish Channel parade every year; she was endlessly proud of being a New Orleanian, a place she deeply loved until her passing.

She is survived by her only daughter, Lilith, and son-in-law, Ryan, of Cornwall, New York; her brother James, and sister-in-law Cindy, of Madisonville, Louisiana; her nieces Jessica and Jaime; and her cousins Wally, Nancy, Sherrie, and Janet.

Dory was a longtime lover of animals in need, regularly volunteering much of her time at animal rescue centers in the area. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in her honor to an animal rescue service of your choice.

A memorial gathering will be held at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 from 2 P.M. until 4 P.M., with a Celebration of Life to follow at her final resting place next to her beloved Tarver family in Mississippi, later this summer.

Fond memories and expressions of condolences may be shared at www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com.