Dugan, Dorothy 1917-2008

DUGAN, MEYLOR, DOWNS

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 2/24/2008 at 20:00:55

Dorothy Dugan, 90, of Kingsley, died Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008 at the Kingsley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Dorothy Meylor Dugan was born on a farm north of Marcus on July 4, 1917, to James and Mary (Downs) Meylor. She attended country school and then Holy Name Academy where she learned to play piano from the nuns, graduating in 1935. She married Marvin Dugan Sept. 16, 1940, at Holy Name church in Marcus. They settled on the Dugan farm two miles south of Kingsley. Marvin died July 28, 1981.

Through the years she was an active member of St Michael's Church, Guild, Catholic Daughters, Missionary Society, and Kingsley community Women's Action Club. Dorothy was assistant leader with the Junior Garden Club, assistant 4-H leader and a den mother for the Cub Scout program in the 1960s.

When St. Michael's school opened in 1966, she was an assistant cook for the hot lunch program. A year later she became head cook until the school closed. Former students still rave about her homemade rolls and pizza. When St. Michael's closed, she went to work in the dietary department and later became the activity coordinator at Colonial Manor until her retirement at age 70.

Dorothy was active in her retirement years. She played every other Tuesday for Happy Hour and then every Friday morning for the walking (therapy) program at Kingsley Nursing and Rehab. She continued playing all the while she was a resident for the last 21 months.

Kay Chapman from Moville heard her play the month before retirement and asked her if she would like to join the Moville Berry Patch dancers. For the next 12 years she tapped and played piano at area nursing homes, fairs, senior centers, etc. She loved the music of the 1940s! In recent years she has entertained at the Plymouth County Historical Museum for their special programs.

She was a member and secretary of the steering committee that planned the 1984 Kingsley Centennial and the narrator for the centennial pageant. Dorothy was proud to be the Matriarch of the Dugan and Meylor families. Dorothy had an annual tradition of serving root beer floats on her 4th of July birthday for the last 30 years at KNRC and then singing "I'm A Yankee Doodle Dandy" to all her family and friends.

She will be lovingly remembered by her two daughters Kathy Dugan of Le Mars and Karen (Benny) Malm of Kingsley, and two sons Kenneth (Martha) Dugan of Long Beach, Calif., and George (Janelle) Dugan of Garden City, Kan.; four grandchildren: Keri Malm of Le Mars and Jim Malm and special friend Stacey Kurtz of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Alisha and Marissa Dugan of Garden City; a sister, Frances and her husband Robert Pesavento of Walnut Creek, Calif.; abrother George and his wife Sunny of Long Beach, Calif., and a sister-in-law Eileen Meylor of Las Vegas, Nev.

Preceding her in death was her husband Marvin, an infant son James at birth, her parents, a brother Jack and and his wife Rose Marie, her brother Jim and a sister-in law Ginny Meylor.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Kingsley. The Rev. Thomas Topf will officiate. Burial will follow at the parish cemetery. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the Johnson - Earnest Funeral Home of Kingsley. The family will be present from 6 to 8 p.m. with a rosary service at 4 p.m. and a Scriptural prayer service at 7 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to Mass on Saturday.

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel 2/21/2008