Delores “Dee” Rae (Strunk) (Doty) Dean

Delores “Dee” Rae (Strunk) (Doty) Dean, daughter of the late Raymond and Dorothy (Diltz) Strunk, was born Sep. 16, 1933, in Norwood, and departed this life May 18, 2020, at home in Mountain Grove, surrounded by her family. She was 86 years, 8 months and 2 days of age.

Dee was raised on a farm south of Norwood and graduated from Norwood High School. She married Gene Walter Doty on Dec. 10, 1951. Four children were born to this union. They had been married for 57 years when Walter passed away Feb. 13, 2009. Dee was a homemaker, while Walter ran the family farm.

She loved to cook and would fix meals for their hired farm hands or for anyone that happened to stop by for a visit. Family was important to her and she loved her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and great-great-grandchild. Dee was saved and baptized as a young child and was a member of Friendship Baptist Church.Dee enjoyed traveling and site-seeing. She especially loved going to the mountains. She enjoyed nature and wildlife. She liked watching the birds, squirrels, and rabbits.

Besides her parents and her husband, Dee was preceded in death by three brothers, Raymond Dale, John and Russell Strunk; sister, Sue Hefner; and an infant sister; and two sons-in-law, Terry Short and Kyle Smith. She is survived by her children, Diana Short, Gary Doty and his wife Cozy, Janet Peterson and Brenda Smith, all of Mountain Grove; 16 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and other relatives and friends who will miss her very much.

Funeral services for Dee (Doty) Dean were held Thursday, May 21, 2020, at 2 p.m. at Friendship Baptist Church, Dawson, with the Rev. Allen Pritchard and the Rev. Curtis Dowden officiating. Song selections were “Amazing Grace,” “Blessed Assurance” and “Peace In The Valley” sung by Tonya Martin with Shelby Atchley as piano accompanist. Jacob Peterson, Caleb Peterson, Ethan Peterson, Cody Smith, Timothy Short, Mark Short, Luke Peterson, Tucker Peterson, Jared Doty, Keeland Nix, Ronnie Nix and Shawn Nix served as pallbearers. Burial was in Friendship Cemetery under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mountain Grove.  Memorial contributions may be made to Kathy Smith St. Jude Memorial Trail Ride or Friendship Cemetery in care of the funeral home. Online condolences:  www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.