Dorothy M. Howard

Dorothy M. Howard, 81, of Iola, Kan., passed away Sunday, July 21, 2013, at Windsor Place Nursing Home, after a brief illness with cancer. Dorothy was born in Coffeyville, Kan., on Jan. 16, 1932, the daughter of Clarence and Loretta Carr. She graduated from Field Kindley High School in 1950. After high school, she graduated from Parsons Junior College.

She married Dwight Howard on Aug. 23, 1953. They were a few weeks away from celebrating their 60th anniversary. They were blessed with four daughters, Linda, Cathy, Janie and Annette.

Because of her love of children, in 1970 she started Tiny Tot Preschool. For the next 30 years, more than 1,000 preschoolers benefitted from her guidance. The love of youth also extended into her Christianity by being involved and directing Sunday school and Bible school for many years. Because of this, the church honored her with Christian Woman of the Year in 2009. After her retirement she still continued her love of teaching by mentoring the next generation of preschool educators at Kids' Kingdom. Dwight and Dorothy's love of education inspired their four daughters to choose education as a career.

She was active in Sorosis, her birthday club, Beta Sigma Phi, Hobby Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Retired Teacher's Association and her coffee group. She was an elder and deacon in church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Jimmy, two brothers-in-law, Kenneth Richardson and Vernon Howard. She is survived by her husband, Dwight, of the home; a sister, Barbara Richardson, Texas; her daughters, Linda Lawson, Olathe, Kan., Cathy Morrell and husband, Jack, of Iola, Janie Watts and husband, Robert, of Nevada, Mo., and Annette Vogel and husband, Matt, of Lee's Summit, Mo.; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 24, at the First Presbyterian Church in Iola. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Iola, Kan. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church. There will be no formal visitation, but friends signed the book and payed their respects from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, in Iola.

Condolences for the family may be left online at www.iolafuneral.com.