Dorothy "Dottie" Stewart Young

Born on March 8, 1925, in Long Beach, California, Dottie was the first of three daughters born to petroleum engineer Glenn Stewart and teacher Mary Helen Ryan. The family moved to follow new oil and gas opportunities, into New Mexico, where younger sister Patricia was born, and then into Texas, where sister Arden was born. After stays in various Texan towns, the Stewart family settled in Seguin, where Dottie attended high school and met her love and future husband, Charles Tips.

Too soon thereafter, war came to the United States and Charles Tips was enrolled in the U.S. Army and shipped to Europe to fight there. During all of that time, Dottie stayed true to him and while waiting for his return home, she attended Texas Women’s College and then Oklahoma University. In early 1946, Charles did just that and their marriage soon followed. In 1947, that marriage produced a daughter, Cheri Lynn Tips, then sometime later, a son, Scott Cameron Tips, and then a final son, Charles Glenn Tips.

Sadly, the marriage broke up; and in 1956, Dottie moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, with the three children and re-established her life there with her parents. Hired as a reservation agent by Braniff Airways in 1957, Dottie not only worked hard to support her children, but she also took her first, tentative steps in what would become a lifetime of travel around the whole World, often with her children in tow so as to introduce them to the World. In fact, by the end of her life, there were only a few countries that Dottie had not visited. She had truly become a very sophisticated travel expert.

In June 1974, Dottie remarried. She and her new husband, insurance-broker Thomas C. Young, embarked on a renewed travel spree from their new home base in New Orleans, Louisiana, that carried them through numerous, other international adventures from the South Pacific to Africa and East Asia.

In the early 1980s, Braniff went bankrupt and Dottie with her experience was snapped up by Continental Airlines. She had moved to Santa Monica, California, and so she worked at LAX airport in the Continental Presidents Club for travelers. Never sick or absent for twenty years, Dottie earned a reputation as the employee one could count on, to always be there, and to cover for her fellow employees on Christmas and other holidays so they could be with their families.

Tragedy struck, though, when Dottie’s younger son died in April 1991, and then again when her husband died from cancer almost eight years later. But, ever resilient, she kept both her spirits up and her interest in the World, eventually welcoming a new partner, Wayne Ha, into her life. Dottie continued to enjoy life and worked until her “early” retirement at the age of 87.

Dottie stayed very healthy and active until a few years before her recent passing at the age of 96, one month shy of her 97th birthday. It was during those later years that Wayne Ha and her surviving children took increasing care of her. However, Wayne’s sudden death in May 2021 removed her main caregiver and Dottie left California for Texas later that year to be cared for by her daughter. Throughout her entire life, Dottie’s family meant everything to her, and she took much solace from their presence.

Dottie is survived by her daughter Cheri, her son Scott and his wife Karen, her grandson Charles Tips and his two daughters Scarlett and Sienna, as well as by Dottie’s two younger sisters Pati and Arden. Ever the animal lover, Dottie especially had a soft spot in her heart for rescued animals; and the Family therefore asks that anyone wanting to remember Dottie to kindly donate to the animal rescue organization of their choice. Interment will be at the Seaside Cemetery in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Finally, the Family expresses its sincere gratitude to the nurses and aides Heather, Maria, Rose, Rachael, Mary, and Lenore of the Assisted Living facility for their great care of Dottie. Sincere thanks are also expressed to Elara Caring Hospice as they were true professionals at every level and truly eased her passing.