Dorothy Stafford

A Celebration of Life Services for Dorothy E. Stafford will be conducted from the First Baptist Church in Oxford, Nebraska on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Paul Sowden and Reverend Stan Murdoch, officiating. Interment will be held at the Oxford Cemetery, Oxford.

Dorothy Elizabeth "Dottie" Stafford, 96 years of age, of Kearney, Nebraska (formerly of Oxford), passed away on Sunday, September 30, 2012 in her home at WEL-Life in Kearney.

Dorothy was born on May 24, 1916, in Dayton, Idaho, the second of four children born to Howard Wilson and Mary Mae (Manby) Holcombe. The family moved to Wheat Ridge, Colorado, where she graduated with the Class of 1934.

On November 29, 1935, Dorothy was united in marriage to Edward H. Stafford, a railroad brakeman and conductor. Ed and Dorothy were blessed with five children: Edward Jr., Jeri, Ronald, Donald and Trudy. The family made their home in Oxford. While the children were small, Dorothy devoted herself to being a mother and homemaker. As the children grew older, she worked part-time at various businesses – Loper's IGA, Bundy Stores, and Oxford Hardware Store.

Dorothy was a member of the Oxford Baptist Church for over 70 years, where she was a Sunday school and Bible school teacher, Youth Group sponsor plus doing various other duties for the church.

Dorothy volunteered as Cub Scout Den Mother, Girl Scout Leader, served on PTA Board, Library Auxiliary, Walker Post Auxiliary and Senior Center Board. She also belonged to Order of Eastern Star, Emanon, Wednesday Club, Pinochle Club and was a Gold Star Mother. Her spare time was filled with sewing, ceramics, traveling and working in her yard. After retirement, you would often see her and Ed golfing, playing tennis, and bike riding.

Dorothy will be remembered as a loving, kind person who was the ultimate caregiver and friend who lived life to the fullest. Her greatest love was always her family.

Besides her parents, Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Ed in 1987; two sons: Ronald and Edward Jr.; two grandchildren: Jeanette Bowers and David Stafford; her brother, Howard; and sisters, Marion and Alice.

She is survived by her children: Jeri Rankin of Lakewood, Colorado, Don Stafford and his wife, Bev of Lakewood and Trudy LaFollette and her husband, Dennis of Kearney; daughter-in-law, Fran Stafford of Billings, Montana; 9 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren; along with several nieces, nephews and many friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 5, 2012, from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.at the Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford.

Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church, the Golden Generation Center or Donor's Choice.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of the arrangements.