HARPER, Dorothy Evelyn SIMMONS 1913 - 2004

HARPER, SIMMONS, RICE, REED, HETHCOCK, WALTON, HEPPNER, MCALLISTER, SCRANTON

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 8/7/2004 at 16:49:30

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Thursday, August 5, 2004

Dorothy Evelyn SIMMONS HARPER

Beloved woman of compassion, wit and elegance, Dorothy passed away on July 21, 2004, where she resided in Gold Beach, Oregon. Her son and daughter-in-law, John and Anita HARPER, encouraged her to move there two years ago, and she loved sharing their community and their friends.

She was born in Minnesota on December 25, 1913, moving as a young child to Fairfield, Iowa, where she grew up, married and gave birth to her four children. Her 90th birthday was celebrated with a number of her children and grandchildren in attendance.

Her life was dedicated to her husband, Dale J. HARPER, who preceded her in death in 1976, and to her children and their offspring. She cherished her many friends. Her skills at friendship were legendary. Gracious entertaining; wonderful cooking; interest in literature, history, music, poetry (she wrote some beautiful poems), antiques, genealogy and gardening; and her gifted storytelling and humor made her an exceptional wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

She leaves a warm and wonderful legacy of love to her children, Daniel Jack HARPER, Sandra Sue HARPER (nee RICE) [sic - maiden HARPER, married name RICE], Mary Beatrice REED and John Stephen HARPER; and her love extended to include Alice Bryant HARPER, Ann Hethcock, Hal REED and Felicity Anita WALTON HARPER, whom she considered her children as well. Her grandchildren, Mark RICE and Anke, Scott HARPER and Dana, Sarah Sue RICE, Jill (HARPER) and Chuck HEPPNER, Simon HARPER and Michele, Katherine (REED) and Bruce McALLISTER, Adam HARPER and Jackie, and Ann REED were a source of pride and joy. Her eight great-grandchildren, Marc HARPER, Danielle HARPER, Daniel HEPPNER, Charles HARPER, Eric and Cameron McALLISTER and Catherine and Britany SCRANTON were also recipients of her humor, love and delight in their existence.

She loved to say to her great-grandbabies, "Why, Darling, you're just barely out of heaven!" She's just barely "in heaven" and we know she is now at peace, and reunited with her many loved ones. These thoughts and recollections comfort us.

Her legacy of love extended to her many wonderful friends and throughout each and every community in which she lived.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of her life. The service will be at the First United Methodist Church in Fairfield at 1 p.m. Saturday, August 7. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield following the funeral service.

A reception and fellowship for family and friends will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the McElhinny House in Fairfield.

Memorials may be made, in her name, to the Fairfield Public Library Endowment Fund.

Arrangements are in the care of the Raymond Funeral Home in Fairfield.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Admin. note: Buried in Lot 2nd.098 with husband Dale.