Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Dorotha Lee Grimes was born to Gladys and Leland Grimes in Morgantown, West Virginia, in 1923. She was raised with her brother, James. Her father worked on a farm at a State College outside of town. Her mother taught her how to cook, sew and crochet. Dorotha graduated from high school in West Virginia. She married Homer Feaster and had three wonderful children: Gary, Linda and Cheryl. She loved being a mother. When her father got a job as a janitor at a school in Southern California, she and her children moved with her family. They bought a house together and everyone helped raise the kids. Her family was gentle, kind and good to everybody. When Dorotha's brother, James, went blind, the family traveled to Oklahoma so he could attend blind school. The family always worked together to help each other.

Dorotha was a caring mother. She encouraged Gary's interests as he liked to ride horses. She sewed clothes for Linda and Cheryl. Kathy, who was very close to Cheryl since the age of 11, remembers Dorotha taking the girls roller skating and to the movies. Dorotha was always willing to answers questions that the kids had. She was quiet and gentle as a mother with a very nice demeanor. As Dorotha attended the First Baptist Church, the girls also attended church activities, church camp, sang in the choir and participated in the Christmas Tree Program. The church had a wonderful youth program. She drove the girls around especially in their pre-teen years. There were a few family vacations. She helped the girls buy their first car. Gary's uncle and grandfather taught him how to use hand tools and how to hunt. She was so proud of Gary's service in Alaska in the United States Army from 1965 – 1967. She was also proud when Linda attended college in Cerritos to become a paralegal. Cheryl attended Dental School and then found work she liked at the Los Angeles Times Dispatch department.

Pursuing further education, Dorotha went on to train as a Nurses Aid. She earned a job at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, where she worked for the next 23 years. Over the years, she was always close with the ladies she worked with and enjoyed attending potluck dinners, talking about all the different dishes. She was an excellent cook. She made wonderful meals for Thanksgiving as the family gathered for the holiday. She made a great turkey and delicious cakes and pies. When one of the other nurse's aids had a place at Lake Arrowhead, Dorotha and her family rented it for a week or two. The family loved cooking outside and hiking on the trails around the lake. When Kathy found two quilt tops in Dorotha's hope chest that she had pieced together with her mother, Kathy sewed borders on them and finished them for Linda and Cheryl.

Dorotha married a second time to Edward Allen and the couple lived for a decade in Hemet, California. As her husband enjoyed golfing and traveling, Dorotha went on trips to Lake Tahoe and Carson City. Kathy and Gary visited once a month on a Sunday or Saturday and they'd sometimes go to the Hemet Swap Meet. Dorotha was really reserved and quiet as she got older. She always enjoyed time with her family. The 1990s were extremely difficult as Dorotha lost her father in 1992, her brother in 1996, and her daughter at the young age of 46 in 1999. She believed in God and Heaven and as such, she knew she would be reunited with them one day. After she divorced, she moved back to Downey.

With many favorites in life, she enjoyed reading the Bible or her favorite magazines. She crocheted, sewed and knit afghans for her children. She loved going to the Downey Women's Bingo Club to play bingo with Ginger, Kathy's mother. They became good friends after her second marriage ended. Dorotha also liked to play bingo in Indian Casinos as she played video slot machines. Her favorite restaurant was Mimi's because she liked the different salads. She also liked Chris and Pitt's for the baby back ribs. Her favorite beverages were coffee, tea and especially on hot days, she liked drinking Diet Coke. She went to Las Vegas a few times with Kathy and Gary. Kathy took her to the Pala Casino in San Diego in January 2009. Dorotha was very lucky as she liked playing the machines. In a few hours, she once won more than $600. She was truly lucky. She'd earn smaller pots here and there, but she liked just hitting and winning. Dorotha liked having a kitty in the house for company. Her current cat was named, Baby. The best part of her life was always the kids getting together and her family. Dorotha and Kathy flew to Colorado a few years ago to stay for a week with Linda and John. It was a wonderful visit.

Her favorite flowers were roses and she had been given beautiful flowers recently. She liked getting Lilies at Easter and Spring bouquets. Dorotha never wanted to live in a Nursing Home, instead she was a strong woman who valued her independence. In that spirit, she lived at her home. Kathy took her grocery shopping and on errands. In the end, the family brought her home to spend her final days as Linda and Gary were by her side as she passed away peacefully. Dorotha will be remembered as a loving mother. She was also like a second mother to Kathy. The family will miss everything about her, especially her ability to tell you like it was. She was truly independent and giving throughout her life.

Linda has many memories of her mother. She was a very loving and giving mother. She was a good listener as well. When Linda called her to discuss something that was troubling her, in one or two sentences her mother would solve the problem. She also remembers her as a very good seamstress. For Easter, Dorotha would help make Easter dresses for the girls with matching hats and gloves to go to church. After church, they'd color eggs for Easter. Linda still has a red coat her mother made for her when she was in her 20s. It's a full length red coat with covered buttons. She hasn't been able to part with it as it's truly a keepsake. Dorotha was very talented and she would improve upon a pattern. She even reupholstered two chairs. She was creative and yet thrifty. Throughout her life, she was always thoughtful of her children and son-in-law and daughter-in-law, especially at birthdays and Christmas. Dorotha was a wonderful cook and she made the best cakes, pies and cheesecake. She was a dedicated wife and thought of others before herself. She liked crossword puzzles and enjoyed watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune on TV to keep her mind active. She was so good at Jeopardy that she could answer many of the questions. Linda will miss everything about her mom, especially not being able to call her. She believed in God and Heaven and she read many scriptures from the Bible as her faith was strong.

Religious hymns that Dorotha enjoyed will be performed by a soloist at her graveside services: "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace." She will be greatly missed, but her beliefs in God were strong and the family believes they will be reunited with her one day. May Dorotha rest in peace.

Dorotha was preceded in death by her parents Gladys and Leland; brother James; and daughter Cheryl. She is loved and remembered by her son Gary and his wife Kathy; daughter Linda and her husband John; friends and neighbors.