Dorothy Ellen "Dottie" Irwin

Dorothy Ellen "Dottie" Irwin, 73, resident of Hume, Mo., died unexpectedly Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013, at her home. She was born May 17, 1940, on the family farm west of Fulton, Kan., the daughter of Glen Fillmore Lay and Nellie May Chaney Lay. She graduated from Fulton High School with the class of 1958. She obtained her R.N. degree from Fort Scott Mercy School of Nursing.

Dottie was a loving and caring nurse for more than 44 years, always working in the field of geriatrics. She married Earl Eugene Payne in 1961, and to this union three children were born, Pamela Sue, Earl Martin and Anne Michelle. They later divorced. In 1988, she married her best friend Mark Wayne Irwin and he was her loving companion, always by her side taking care of her to the very end.

She enjoyed traveling, dancing, water skiing, and reading and writing, especially poetry. A perfect day would be a hot cup of coffee, a good book and watching the snow fall in her "Blue Room" with her dogs cuddled close. She adored her rose garden and watching movies and eating candy in bed with the grandkids. All over the house were notes she would leave, Dottie always had a pen and paper near and wrote her thoughts and her feelings whenever she had a free moment. These little notes will bring the family comfort and fond memories for the rest of their lives.

Survivors include her husband, Mark, of the home; one son, Marty Payne and wife, Melissa, Richards, Mo.; two daughters, Pamela Maris Morris and husband, Greg, and Annie Payne Ghere and husband, Jayce, all of Butler, Mo.; a brother, Bob Lay and wife, Delores, Portland, Ore.; three sisters, Betty Guilfoyle and husband, Bernard, Omaha, Neb., Margaret McMillen and husband, Jim, Butler, Mo., and Judy Smith and husband, Granville, Baxter, Iowa; 10 grandchildren, Morgan Warland, Crechelle Robertson and husband, Cody, Zane Swickhamer, Taylor Maris, Dacota Maris, Alex Payne, Megan Payne, Kristin Ghere, Kyle Morris, and Shelby Morris; two great grandchildren, Blair and Abel Warland; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents.

The Rev. Jerry Payne will conduct celebration of life services at 1 p.m., Friday, Aug. 9, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Osaga Cemetery, Fulton, Kan. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., Thursday, at the Chapel. Memorials are suggested to either Osaga Cemetery Association or Fort Scott Community College Nursing Program and may be left in care of Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kan., 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.