Dorothy Jean James Sheldon was born on September 2nd 1940 in Johnson County (Olathe) Kansas to Andy John James and Lula Mae Lawler. She was raised on a farm with her two brothers John Robert and Gerald Wilber in the Rock House on 95th Street and K-7 Highway. All three of the children attended Prairie Star School.
After graduating from Olathe High School, Dorothy started her banking career at The Mission Bank in Mission, Kansas as a bookkeeper before banks had computers. She worked in the bookkeeping department until the bank purchased their first mainframe and was then trained as a teller.
Dorothy met William “Chet” Sheldon on a double date with her brother Jerry and his wife Betty. They enjoyed going to the drive-in theater and on one occasion, Chet had a flat tire which Dorothy promptly jumped out of the car and began to pull out the jack and tire iron before Chet could reach the back of the car.
Chet and Dorothy married on June 1, 1963 at Grace United Methodist Church in Olathe, Kansas and moved into their first home in Stilwell on the Sheldon Family land. After two years of marriage, they welcomed their first daughter Cindy and then Jeannette four years later.
Dorothy was a home-maker while her children were young. She was an accomplished gardener who filled the table and pantry for many years with fresh produce. She loved to crochet and made many beautiful works of art. She enjoyed reading and watching movies and always had a good story to tell. Chet and Dorothy loved to travel in the winter and would go on adventures in their RV where the weather was warm and sunny.
Dorothy returned to work at Valley View State Bank and was a teller and branch manager at the Metcalf South Branch. She shared her passion of banking with her youngest daughter who also worked at the bank. Dorothy retired from Valley View after working there for 18 years.
Dorothy was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron and District Deputy.
Dorothy passed away on March 19, 2019 at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas and was surrounded by her family.
She was preceded in death by her father Andy John James, mother Lula Mae Lawler James, brother John Robert James & sister-in-law Barbara Jean Cordell James. Survivors include her husband of 55 years, William C. Sheldon, daughter Cindy Frazer & her husband Michael, sons Christopher Frazer & wife Amanda & great granddaughter Melanie Jane, son Cordell Frazer, daughter Jeannette Howe & husband Kevin, brother Jerry James, sister-in-law Betty Kissinger James & many nieces & nephews. Memorial contributions may be to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation or to the Alzheimer's Association. Fond memories and condolences may be shared at www.mcgilley-frye.com
