Dorothy Dootson

Dorothy Marie Dootson, 95, of Quakertown, died quietly in her sleep Wednesday morning. Dorothy was born in Pottstown, on June 8, 1917, to the late Frederick W. and Esther Mae Deloplaine. She married the late James Douglas Dootson. Dorothy and Doug Dootson were married until his death in January of 1994. The couple resided in the Boyertown area where they raised had two daughters, Candy and Debbie. Dorothy was a teacher throughout her life. Her professional career spanned 25 years with the Boyertown School District, where she served as an elementary teacher and then as a reading specialist. After her retirement she moved to Maryland with her husband, to be closer to their daughter's families. Affectionately known as Nana by her grandchildren, she continued to apply her craft by helping to teach all six of them to read and write. Later in life, she helped dozens of Korean children how to speak, read, and write in English. After returning to Boyertown, she continued to share her love of reading with her great grandchildren. After the untimely and tragic loss of her granddaughter Ann Elizabeth Metz, to Leukemia, Dorothy founded The Crafty Ladies of Walnut Woods. The group knitted and crocheted their way to raising tens of thousands of dollars to fund research for Leukemia. Dorothy is survived by her daughters: Jacalyn "Candy" Smith and Deborah Metz. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Mike Smith, Doug Smith, Jonathan Smith, Erin Smith, and Dan Metz, and her great-grandchildren Michael, Tori, Teddy, and Matthew Smith, of Gilbertsville. As a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, foster parent, teacher, and crusader against cancer, she touched many of us and will be missed. Services will be held at the New Hanover United Methodist Church on Monday, May 13, at 4:00 p.m.