Dorothy “Dot” Jones
Dorothy Dean ‘Dot’ Jones passed away in Oklahoma City on Thursday, September 3, 2020, at the age of 86 years.
Dorothy was the daughter of William Thomas ‘W. T.’ Stites & Thula Pearl (Cunningham) Stites, born on July 23, 1934, in Wetumka, Oklahoma. She was brought up in Wetumka until the age of twelve, when her family moved to Modesto, California. There Dorothy met the love of her life, Billy George ‘Bill’ Jones, and became his wife at the age of 16 on April 6, 1951, in Bakersfield, California. Bill had recently been inducted into the U.S. Army, and Dorothy lived with him in Texas for the duration of Army basic training. After training, they were stationed for three years in England, where they were blessed with their first child, their son Ronald.
Following military service, Bill & Dorothy returned to California and lived in Modesto for a few years, and then in San Jose, where their two daughters, Cindy and Pam, were born. They moved their family back to Modesto, where Bill owned and operated his own auto mechanic shop, then moved to Strathmore in 1965. Dorothy became a licensed Cosmetologist and opened her own business, Dot’s Golden Comb. Bill worked a short time for the Ford dealership garage, then was self employed for some fifteen years in Strathmore before moving his family to Holdenville, Oklahoma in 1980.
Bill & Dorothy owned and operated a mobile home sales business in Holdenville for many years, and then moved to Prague in 2002, and lived there for several years, along with both their daughters and sons-in-law. They were a vital part of their daughter Pam’s real estate business, maintaining sign placement and removal, minding the office and grandson, repairing or replacing anything broken - just enjoying a very busy retirement, before moving in 2012 to their current home in Seminole. Bill worked hard and was a successful businessman, and he and Dorothy enjoyed being ‘Snowbirds’, traveling from Oklahoma to Niland, California, living in their motor home or RV for three months out of every winter for thirteen years. They were blessed with 64 years together before Bill passed away on February 15, 2015.
Dorothy remained actively involved in the real estate business, and she was its biggest fan. She served as president of their support team and surrogate grandma to the entire staff, and she kept the office filled with fresh baked treats, love, and prayer. At home, she enjoyed hours on the computer researching family ancestry and genealogy. Her life philosophy could be summed up in a few words: she never gave up. She was diligent, tough, determined, and had resolve like no one else. She enjoyed using the computer and whenever she encountered a problem, she was tenacious and persistent in trying for hours to resolve it on her own, and would call for help only when it was absolutely unavoidable. Whether it was a new leisure activity to learn or a serious issue she faced, Dorothy lived her entire life by this principle - she never gave up. She loved her church, Immanuel Fellowship Church in Seminole. More than anything, she loved the Lord and she loved her family. She was dearly loved in return, and will be sorely missed.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill, at age 83 and their son, Ronald, in a motorcycle accident in 1972 at the age of 18; her parents, W. T. & Thula Stites; three siblings: Russel Stites, Nelva Wilhite, and Troy Stites.
She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Cindy & Joe Painter of Dayton, Ohio, and Pam & Harvey Robinson of Prague; three grandchildren: Leanne Shockley and husband, Dr. Jeremiah Shockley, Lt. Col. USAF (ret) of Dayton, Ohio, Emily Denney and husband, Dr. Heath Denney, Pharm.D, of Ada, and Dillon Robinson and wife Chelsea, of Seminole; five great grandchildren: 1st Lt. Liberty Shockley, USAF, Luke Shockley, Everett Denney, Max Denney, and Kate Denney; three siblings: Louise Wilson, Jimmy Stites, and Catherine Van Wert; numerous nieces and nephews, other family members, and many friends.
Graveside services were held at the Holdenville Cemetery Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, and Dorothy was laid to rest at Holdenville Cemetery beside her beloved husband, best friend and confidant. Rev. Tim Tate was the officiating minister. Pallbearers were Dillon Robinson, Everett Denney, Dr. Heath Denney, Joe Painter, Dr. Jeremiah Shockley, and Liberty Shockley.
Services were under direction of Fisher Funeral Home of Holdenville. www.fisherfh.net