The Shadow
Dorothy “Dot” Kelley Dean, age 90, died Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at her daughter’s home in Sanford, North Carolina.
She was born in Potts Creek, Virginia on December 31, 1929, the daughter of the late Harmon and Cara Cenna Kelley.
Dot was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Roy Dean in 2012.
She was also preceded in death by 5 sisters and 4 brothers; Louella Price, Gladys Paxton, Virginia Painter, Marie Moore, Ruth Peffer, Edward Kelley, Roy Kelley, Ray Kelley, and John Kelley. She is survived by two daughters, Betty Robertson and Dotty Dean; grandson, Phillip Robertson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was a member of the Hot Springs Baptist Church. In her working career Dot was employed as a cook for the Bath County School System, a cashier for the Homestead Resort, and as a home health aide for the Bath County Health Department. She was an energetic and inquisitive person with so many interests. Dot loved gardening, cooking, sewing, hunting, fishing, canning, making jams and jellies, bird watching, and the list could go on. Her outlook on life was don’t waste anything and always try to make everything better. She adored children and treasured each one for who they were. She liked to read and once was caught reading her newspaper using a flashlight during a power outage. Nothing made her happier than having family or friends drop in. Dot cared deeply for others and helped wherever she could. She planted a little apple tree a few years ago and said “I won’t see the apples, but maybe someone will.”
A service honoring Dorothy’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 2, 2020 at McLaughlin & Young Funeral Home.
The family receive friends an hour before the service.
Interment will be in the Warm Springs Cemetery.
