Funeral Manuscript for Dorothy Stotts, July 13, 2019

This past Saturday I presided over the funeral for Dorothy Stotts at Lampe Funeral Home here in Lake City.  Dorothy was a wonderful lady of 105 years, such a long and amazing life.  Please pray for her family and friends who will miss her until they are reunited in our Father's House.  God bless and comfort them all.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

Order of Service – Funeral for Dorothy Stotts - July 13, 2019

Prelude: 

Call to Worship:
Heavenly Father, You have assured us that through Your Son all shall have eternal life. Trusting in Your faithfulness and mercy, we await that glory filled day when You raise us all to life in triumph and we shall stand before Your throne. Standing there with all Your creation made new in Christ Jesus, basking in the glory of Your eternal Heavenly Kingdom. 

Opening Prayer:
Dear Lord, we acknowledge Your presence here and come before Your throne this afternoon as friends and family of Dorothy Katherine Stotts. We are here because we loved her, and now miss her, and we want to cherish our memories of her, we want to honor her life, to honor her, and to support one another as we grieve her passing – a passing from life here with us to everlasting life there with you O Lord.

God, thank you for Dorothy, You formed her, you knew her, you walked with her through 105 years, and even now we have confidence that she is in your presence.
We thank you that you are a God of mercy, who promises to comfort us, particularly when we lose our loved ones, and so in these moments now, and in the weeks and months ahead, please bring comfort and mercy to us as we remember, and share fondly all that  Dorothy was to us.

In the mighty and holy name of Jesus, we pray.
Amen.

Special Music:

Scripture Readings:
Let us hear now a Reading from the Old Testament:
Psalm 23  King James Version (KJV)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Let us hear now a Reading from the New Testament:
1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

Prayer:
Let us pray.
Dear Father of all mercies and God of all consolation, you pursue us with untiring love and dispel the shadow of death with the bright dawn of life. Give courage to this family in their loss and sorrow. Be their refuge and strength, O Lord, reassure them of your continuing love and lift them from the depths of grief into the peace and light of your presence. 

Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, by dying has destroyed our death, and by rising, restored our life. Your Holy Spirit, our comforter, speaks for us in groans too deep for words. Come alongside your people, remind them of your eternal presence and give them your comfort and strength. Amen

Message:  Pastor Roy Karlen – Woodlawn Christian Church 
Today I'm going to do something a little different with my message.  I am going to start off with a biography written for Dorothy by her daughter-in-law Linda.  Linda in her writing has touched on so much of Dorothy's life.

Dorothy Katherine Mapel, middle daughter of Thomas Layton Mapel and Eva (Gregg) Mapel was born April 14, 1914, at home in Lake Creek township.  She spent her growing up years playing with her sisters, Hazel and Ruth, doing farm chores, helping her mother around the house and in the garden, and riding their pony down the road to country school.  The family moved into Rockwell City during the time the girls attended high school.  Dorothy graduated in 1932, after taking Normal Training.  She accepted a position teaching country school in Lake Creek #5, down the road from her home.  Her sisters, likewise, took up positions in neighboring schools.

On April 30, 1939, Dorothy married Merle Stotts (an electrician), in the St. Francis rectory.  They lived in Rockwell City before moving to a small home in Sherwood (the little red house is still standing).  For four years, Dorothy ran the small grocery store out of the home and pumped gas.  The couple then moved to a farm northeast of Yetter, where they raised crops, milked a Brown Swiss dairy herd, raised hogs and chickens, and had a large garden.  Dorothy was active in all aspects of farming.  She taught Sunday school at the Presbyterian Church in Lytton.  They had three boys.  Michael was born in 1945, followed by Steven and David (both dying in infancy).

On January 21, 1968, Merle suddenly passed away.  Mike and Dorothy got the crop in that year, after which Dorothy made the decision to move into Lake City.  She took employment as a clerk at Ryan's Super Value for several years.  After living in several apartments, she purchased a small home on South Woodlawn.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren, Jennifer and Jason, and continued to garden on a smaller scale, adding beautiful flowers around her home.  She helped Mike and Linda during farming season, bringing out meals, helping them change locations, and watching the grand-kids on occasion.  She became a member of the Lake City Union Church.

About this time, her interest in painting bloomed.  She took classes from local artist Eileen Blaskovich, as well as other area classes and seminars offered.  She joined china painting clubs in Carroll and Fort Dodge.  Her skills grew as she did numerous oil paintings, beautiful porcelain plates, and dolls.  Her doll collection numbered over 50.  A small kiln was added to her workshop in the basement.

Dorothy also loved to bake, keeping the neighborhood kids supplied with fresh cookies! She also loved playing cards, joining several clubs.  Through friends Ruth and Sam Finley, she met Sam's brother Floyd.  They spent time together doing many social activities, including dancing.  Their companionship lasted until Floyd's passing.

After a fall, she entered Shady Oaks in the fall of 2014.  There she enjoyed the companionship of other residents and participated in the activities offered.  Church remained an important aspect of her life, attending whatever service was being offered.  Her health started to decline this past year.  On July 4, she said a final goodbye to this life.

She is survived by her son Michael (Linda) Stotts, grandchildren Jennifer Holloway (Derek Manchester) and Jason (Jecque) Stotts, great grandchildren Amanda, Amber, and Allison Holloway, and Jack and Dane Stotts.

Thank you, Linda, for preparing these memories to be shared today.

When I asked Mike and Linda to describe Dorothy to me they immediately answered that she was nice, that she never said a bad word about anyone, Mike never remembers her really being mad, she never complained, she wasn't one to ask for help, she was always active, she never smoked or drank, and her only vice was that she liked to go to the Beauty Shop regularly.  Oh, and they mentioned that she really loved her shoes, Mike said she had a least 90 pairs of shoes in her closet.

They told me how she'd overcome so much adversity in her life.  Her arm was caught in a wringer washer when she was a child and the doctor wanted to amputate the arm.  Dorothy's father Thomas wouldn't allow it, he took her to Chicago for treatment and there they were able to save her arm.  She lost one of her kidneys at an early age and went over 90 years with just one functioning kidney. Dorothy endured not once but twice the most heartbreaking event a parent can face, the loss of a child, her two sons Steven and David both dying as infants. She next lost her husband at an all too young of an age and then in that very same year, her mother passed as well.  Finally, in that last year of farming after Merle's death, Dorothy lost part of a finger in a stock chopper.

Still, through it all, she kept going and didn't complain.  She simply moved into Lake City and found new lines of employment and involvement. Dorothy just kept living and enjoying her life, as Linda said she met Floyd Finley and they shared many years of friendship.  She maintained her independence and kept driving well into her 90's.

Finally, though the time came that Dorothy had to move into Shady Oaks.  Mike and Linda said that they discovered that Dorothy would often forget to turn the timer on when baking cookies and only remember that she had something in the oven when the smoke detector would go off.  They wondered how many batches of cookies she burned.  She'd just dump the burned ones and start over again with another batch. Dorothy celebrated her 100th birthday at Shady Oaks shortly after moving in; and I have to say that having to move into a nursing home at nearly 100 isn't anything to be ashamed of, in fact, that in and of itself is quite remarkable.

There are so many, many stories that one can accumulate in 105 years of life on this earth, but I am going to let the rest of them be told by each of you during the time of gathering right after this service.

In closing, Dorthy was as mentioned, always devoted to her faith and regularly attended worship even after moving to Shady Oaks.  She had an unwavering faith in her Lord and a firm understanding of the importance of worshiping together.

Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV)
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

Hebrews 12:1-3  New International Version (NIV)
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Dorothy endured hardship, loss, and trails, but she never lost her faith nor her witness.  Ours is a great and wonderful God, a God who loves us and watches over us our whole life-long.  Let us, like Dorothy, never lose heart, let us always remember to smile and gently laugh, even while the world throws it's worst upon us... for we know that beyond all that we see and endure here, that our Lord and our Savior loves us.  And knowing that God loves us we are called to show, and express our love for Him and His children.

On July 4th, 2019, Dorothy Stotts was born anew into the Kingdom of Heaven and looked not only into the face of her husband Merle, and the faces of her two dear young boys Steven and David, along with the faces of all of her so many other loved ones that have gone on before her, but she also and most importantly looked upon the very face of God the Father Himself...  Praise be to God... 

Thank you, dear Lord, for giving us Dorothy to know and to love on this earthly journey.  Though we shall always miss her, we know that her gentle smile, today lights the very streets of Heaven, and its memory shall long be lit in the hearts and minds of those who loved her so very, very much.  Praise be to God.  

Special Music:

Final Instructions and Closing Prayer:
The family wishes for you all to join them in further celebration of Dorothy's life and a time of shared remembrances and closure, by gathering with them for snack bars and beverages in the room adjacent here at Lampe's.  The family will have a private interment at a later time.  Please allow this closing prayer to serve also as the blessing for the refreshments.  

Let us please pray:
O God, our Strength, and our Redeemer, Giver of life, and Conqueror of death, we open our hearts to you just as we are.  We celebrate your gift of life freely given but are grieved by a sense of loss in the face of death.  The love which binds us to one another leaves us aching as ties are broken.  Accept our tears as emblems of devotion, and transform them into waters of life to nourish us in the days ahead.

We trust you. We love you. We know in Christ that your love is everlasting.  Nothing can separate any of us from your abiding care.  With you is eternal life.

With confidence, we now entrust Dorothy to your unfailing love and overflowing goodness.  Through the power that raised Christ from the dead to live eternally with you, lift up this, your servant, to life fulfilled beyond our imagining.  We give you but your own, enfold her in your everlasting arms, hold her for she is your child.
Now strengthen us, through the gift of your Spirit, to face into the future with confidence that you stand with us.  Grant that the changes of life may leave us stronger as we journey through life.
Reassured of your abiding presence, help us to knit more firmly the ties that bind us one to another.  Renewed by your love, help us to love in ever larger circles so as to embrace your people everywhere till at last we are all united eternally through Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Benediction:

Lampe Funeral Home