Dottie was born in Binghamton, New York, on July 14, 1928, to Alma Grace Carey and Eric Swain Stearns. She grew up in Cheverly, MD, with her parents, older brother Russell, and younger sister Barbara (pictured below), graduating from Bladensburg High School in 1945. Dottie was a student in the nursing program at the University of Maryland when she met Carl. They married in August 1948 and started a family soon after Carl earned his BSEE degree in 1950.
Dottie, Carl and their children lived in the Washington, DC area, Indiana, Massachusetts, and upstate New York, making friendships along the way that lasted a lifetime.
From her mother, Alma
Carey Stearns, Dottie acquired a love of poetry. Even in her later years she could recite, from memory, lengthy passages that she had learned as a child. Dottie had a gift for writing original verse, finding the appropriate poem for every situation and creatively adapting the poetry of others to express unique and personal sentiments.
Dottie loved music and sang in church choirs for most of her life. She served as a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader, a Cub Scout den mother, and a Sunday School teacher and superintendent. Dottie was a devout Christian whose faith influenced every aspect of her life. She served as a United Methodist lay speaker and was an active member of the United Methodist Women.
Dottie was the consummate nurturer whose love for family and friends knew no bounds. She had a unique and special bond with each of her four children, sixteen grandchildren and three great-grandsons. Leading by example, she taught them all to be compassionate and generous. She is lovingly remembered by them all for her caring and supportive ways.
Dottie was passionate about staying in touch with the important people in her life through cards, notes, letters and phone calls. She never missed an opportunity to wish someone a happy birthday or anniversary, accompanied by words of love, inspiration, and encouragement.
And she
always made sure that everyone had a supply of "vitamins," which is what Dottie called M&M candies.
Dottie enjoyed good health until the day she died. She passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on November 23, 2011. Dottie's grave is in Riverhurst Cemetery in Endwell, NY; see details at
findagrave.com.
→ Watch the
video tribute to Dottie, created by granddaughter Allison Walls
→ Read some of the
tributes to Dottie that were presented at her memorial service
Dottie was born in Binghamton, New York, on July 14, 1928, to Alma Grace Carey and Eric Swain Stearns. She grew up in Cheverly, MD, with her parents, older brother Russell, and younger sister Barbara (pictured below), graduating from Bladensburg High School in 1945. Dottie was a student in the nursing program at the University of Maryland when she met Carl. They married in August 1948 and started a family soon after Carl earned his BSEE degree in 1950.
Dottie, Carl and their children lived in the Washington, DC area, Indiana, Massachusetts, and upstate New York, making friendships along the way that lasted a lifetime.
From her mother, Alma Carey Stearns, Dottie acquired a love of poetry. Even in her later years she could recite, from memory, lengthy passages that she had learned as a child. Dottie had a gift for writing original verse, finding the appropriate poem for every situation and creatively adapting the poetry of others to express unique and personal sentiments.
Dottie loved music and sang in church choirs for most of her life. She served as a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader, a Cub Scout den mother, and a Sunday School teacher and superintendent. Dottie was a devout Christian whose faith influenced every aspect of her life. She served as a United Methodist lay speaker and was an active member of the United Methodist Women.
Dottie was the consummate nurturer whose love for family and friends knew no bounds. She had a unique and special bond with each of her four children, sixteen grandchildren and three great-grandsons. Leading by example, she taught them all to be compassionate and generous. She is lovingly remembered by them all for her caring and supportive ways.
Dottie was passionate about staying in touch with the important people in her life through cards, notes, letters and phone calls. She never missed an opportunity to wish someone a happy birthday or anniversary, accompanied by words of love, inspiration, and encouragement.
And she always made sure that everyone had a supply of "vitamins," which is what Dottie called M&M candies.
Dottie enjoyed good health until the day she died. She passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on November 23, 2011. Dottie's grave is in Riverhurst Cemetery in Endwell, NY; see details at findagrave.com.
→ Watch the video tribute to Dottie, created by granddaughter Allison Walls
→ Read some of the tributes to Dottie that were presented at her memorial service
