Dorothy Verdie Grooms was born at Couch, Missouri on April 19, 1922 to David Luther and Annie Frances Clark Blankenship and departed this life on March 21, 2011 at the age of 88 years and 11 months. She was at her daughter’s home in Thayer, Missouri with her closest family by her side.
Dorothy attended Norman School and loved to tell her children and grandchildren accounts of her walking through dust, rain and snow to attend school. She was not able to go on to high school so she attended the eighth grade the second time. It was in this community setting that she met and fell in love with the love of her life. On March 31, 1943 she was united in marriage to Albert Lawrence Grooms and to this union two daughters were born; Elda Mae and Anita Berniece.
Dorothy dedicated her life to being a wife, mother and homemaker. She loved working in her garden, nurturing her flowers and maintaining her yard and home in pristine condition. She enjoyed playing dominoes with her friends and took winning very seriously. All of her children and grandchildren have items that she had crocheted or quilted just for them. In her later days she was unable to do these things so she spent much of her time working jig-saw puzzles.
Dorothy was a member of the Thayer Free Will Baptist Church for over 50 years. She attended services faithfully until her health no longer permitted.
Dorothy considers her family to be her legacy. She is survived by her daughter, Elda Bragg Willauer of Thayer, Missouri, grandson Kelly Alan Bragg and great-grand-children Madison Joy and Ian Stewart of Kansas City, Missouri; daughter Anita Humphreys, her husband Powell of Thayer, Missouri, granddaughter Michelle Dawn Thomason, her husband Joe and great-grand-children, Graham Joe, Samantha Dawn, Joshua David and Anna Michelle Thomason of Weldon Spring, Missouri and by grandson Brent Powell Humphreys and his wife Erica of West Plains, Missouri. She also leaves behind a host of relatives, lifelong friends and her faithful long time companion, Muffin.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence; an infant son; her parents, Luther and Annie; brothers, George Blankenship, David (Dude) Blankenship and her sister, Opal Ingram.
Those who knew Dorothy, knew that she was a strong woman with a dedication to her faith in God. Her love for her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was apparent in everything she did. She will truly be missed.
Funeral services were Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 2:00 PM in the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer with Brother Greg Smith and Brother Richard Robinson officiating. Burial was in the Norman Cemetery.