Dorothy June Davis was born at home in Madison, Illinois. She was the fourth daughter of Violet (Townzen) and Albert Davis. Lorraine passed away at a young age. Loretta (James) was her oldest sister then Betty (Moran), then later her parents adopted a son.

If you asked Dorothy Kelly what was most important to her, she would answer my Family. She was extremely proud of them and cherished each and every one. Dorothy Kelly married the love of her life Jack Kelly in 1949. They were blessed with 6 children within the next 8 years; Christine, Sean, Norma, Karen, Michelle and David.

As their children grew and fell in love they too became family; Barbara, Jeanette, Randy, David, Michael, and EunSuk were all welcomed into her special circle.

Nothing made Dorothy happier than her Grandchildren Amanda, Addie, John, Neil, Nicole, Mike, Eric, Danielle, Zac, Katie, Joshua, and Isabella.

She cherished each of her Great Grandchildren, Abby, Emily, Lynsey, Gabriel, Mason, Jaxson, Braden, Jessica, Kirsten, Collin, Marlee, Blake, Aaron, Madison, Morgan, Mackenzie, and Maddux as well as her great-great-grandson Ryder. She didn''t hesitate to tell anyone they should have more children. Nothing made her happier than having a large family around her.

Dorothy was very creative and talented. Her children remember the Disney characters she drew on the walls of their bedroom. It wasn''t a problem for her if you drew on the walls. She encouraged them to put on plays and patiently applauded their efforts. She hand-made the most wonderful Halloween costumes that always won first place.

Summers were special for shower baths outside, sleeping in and staying up late, there were always special things on payday like getting an ice cream and a drive by the Mississippi River, or everyone piling into the same car and going to the drive-in.

She taught them that they could disagree at home but they better have the best manners possible in public, she taught them to be there for each other and to stick up for what is right. She always taught them, "There but for the Grace of God go I".

Dorothy''s way was the right way, she was never wrong, occasionally mistaken, but never wrong. She was just a little competitive when it came to winning at games and had a few tricks to make sure that that would happen. Her good-hearted competitive spirit was passed down through the generations. She was a little demanding but only because she wanted the best for everyone. If she thought you may have made a mistake she didn''t hesitate to let you know it. Everyone knew that it was just her way. The filter didn''t apply to family.

It was her competitive spirit that caused her to start working on genealogy. She wanted to discover more things on the Kelly side than her sister could discover in her Davis line. Of course she succeeded! Everyone understood Dorothy''s passion as they often went with her to libraries and helped her write letters and anything else they could do.

Dorothy and her sisters Betty and Loretta as children found a seashell when they moved into a new home. Since they each claimed it they would continually hide it from each other. That seashell has traveled the country more than most people.

She always had a special sense of humor. If you did something as simple as keep turning the wrong way when you went down the hall to get her ice she would laugh. You never felt like she was laughing at you but with you. She always did it with kindness.

Her door was always open and everyone knew it. When any of her grandchildren were upset with their parents they knew they could run-away to Grandma and she would make everything alright. She loved babysitting and treated everyone like they were her own children. Anyone who came into her home would soon call her just Grandma.

Her grandchildren loved to spend the night, she was always ready to play games with them, watch movies, or watch baseball. At breakfast they would order anything from pancakes to omelets and she would fix it all, including burnt toast. There were always Ramen noodles, pop-cycles, popcorn or some type of snacks. You could never be hungry there. Whenever anyone sat a glass down, she was always picking it up. If you wanted that last drink, you better hold onto your glass.

She was a great cook and loved to teach others how. If their parents didn''t let them cook she would show them how to fix something. Now they can say Grandma taught me how to do that! As much as she loved cooking, she loved going out to eat with family even more! She didn''t think anyone was able to cook as well as she did except for a restaurant.

She never forgot a birthday or special occasion. Holidays were extra special for her and she would cook for hours. You didn''t dare try to sample anything, unless she wasn''t looking. Everyone was expected to sit down and eat together. Christmas was her absolutely favorite holiday. Christmas Eve was mandatory for family. She made sure everyone had special things to open that she picked out just for them.

For many years Dorothy was an avid reader until her eyes started to fail. She passed her love of reading on to her family. They can''t help but think of her whenever they read a book.

Dorothy loved watching her family participate in sporting events. It was a rare occasion that she ever missed anything involving her family. For a while she even kept score for the team her daughters played softball on. She was always there to help in any way she could. Dorothy passed her love of baseball on to her family. Her favorite pastime in her later years was watching Cardinal baseball. There will be another Angel in their outfield.

When her health began to fail it was hard for Dorothy to leave her home but she knew she needed more help and her children would take care of her. There were just too many wonderful memories at her home that she couldn''t bear to sell it. She wanted everything there to remain there just like it was when she left.

Later when she was no longer able to remain in a home setting, her children searched to find the perfect skilled Nursing Home for her, Hitz Memorial Home in Alhambra. She grew to love it there and felt it was her home. She still did things her way. She had the best decorated room there along with lots of pictures of family and Cardinal banners. She even made sure when she played bingo she had her lucky card. She would hide it so no one else could find it.

It would have been easy for someone with Dorothy''s physical problems to complain but that wasn''t in her nature. She just accepted it and did the best she could do. It wasn''t always the easiest for her family to be there but someone came to check on her every day. She cherished those visits more than anything. Her face would light up just seeing you come through the door. Everyone knew they were expected to bring a snack. She wanted to know what was going on with each and every person. Those nights are going to be the most difficult for her children because for the last 5 years they knew how she looked forward to each of their special nights together. She loved everyone bringing pets along on their visits. She especially loved her cat Milo to visit.

Growing up in a home where your great-grandparents lived and passed away there was a certain sense that they had spirits or ghosts around watching. Some things that happen are just unexplainable. There was a sense the last few days that Jack knew it was time to hide the bourbon and cigarettes and search for Dorothy. His spirit was felt on the elevator of the hospital. Dorothy''s entire family was with her around the clock as much as each of them possible could be. As Jack and Dorothy''s last two children were leaving the hospital for the last time in the early hours on Saturday. Two elevators opened with no one around getting off or on. They knew that their parents had found each other once again. When one door closes another opens.

Dorothy loved collecting Angels. There is no doubt that she is embracing each of us with her wings. She is no longer in pain and in Heaven above directing everyone on the right way to do things.

One of the last gifts that Dorothy received from one of her children was a shirt that said, Classy, Sassy and a Bit Smart-Assy. She loved it. She saw the humor and love in the caption. Her indomitable spirit was felt by everyone. The nurses and doctors in the ICU said they have never seen a patient there with her feisty attitude. She had a way of charming everyone and making them laugh.

Dorothy has left behind a beautiful legacy of a wonderful family full of beautiful, caring, strong, kind-hearted, outspoken, family-oriented, independent, resilient, head-strong individuals.

The Angels sang Amazing Grace the Lord came down and touched your face, Jack was there he held your hand and whispered low come with me it's time to go. The gates of heaven opened wide, the angels lined up side by side, a special guest was on her way. Those we love don't go away they walk beside us every day.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal,

Love leaves a memory no one can steal.

She will be missed.

Memorials may be made to Hitz Memorial Home, 201 Bell Street, Alhambra, IL 62001.

Graveside Service was held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, August 25, 2014 at Sunset Hill Memorial Estates in Glen Carbon, Illinois.