Dorothy Mae Parsons

Dorothy Mae Parsons was born on December 30, 1928, to Clarence Lovell Wyatt and Sarah Alice Sydnor Wyatt. She was the firstborn of her siblings: Hazel Hooks, Marion Wyatt, Patricia Milton, and Michael Wyatt. As a child, she took care of her grandparents by cooking, cleaning, and helping in various ways. Growing up in rural Missouri, Dorothy developed a fear of snakes after one fell out of a tree in front of her. From that moment on, she couldn’t bear anything that reminded her of a snake—this proved to be quite a challenge, as she loved to garden and often encountered worms. Dorothy attended Sacred Heart School in Denver, where she grew into the strong, independent woman her family and friends knew and loved.

After high school, Dorothy met Henry Parsons, and the two fell in love. They married in 1951 and shared a life full of love and adventure. Together, they enjoyed bowling, entertaining family and friends, and were active members of their church, Central Baptist. They were married for 50 years until Henry's passing in 2001. Throughout their marriage, Dorothy and Henry raised five children: Henry (Junie) Gale Parsons, Dorothy (Dee) Diane Davenport, Jamie Ann Jones, David (Davie) Glenn Parsons, and Allan (Al) Russel Parsons.

Her children remember Dorothy as a tenacious "jack of all trades." She sewed their clothes, reupholstered furniture, and even made her own soap and butter. Dorothy was a culinary enthusiast who loved experimenting with recipes and making each child's favorite food for their birthday: fried chicken for Junie, hamburger and fries for Diane, asparagus for Jamie, german chocolate cake Davie, and crepes for Al. Her children affectionately called her a "daredevil" because of her fearless approach to homemaking. They recall her propping a ladder on the stairs to paint the wall, stacking phone books on the table and standing on them to reach lightbulbs, and trimming hedges with an electric trimmer well into her eighties. Dorothy was always surprising her family—when they left for school or work, they’d return to find the living room repainted and the furniture rearranged. If something was broken, she figured out how to fix it.

Christmas was a special time for Dorothy. She loved decorating her home, and she may have even been the originator of the "Black Santa", as she would color her Santa figures and posters with brown markers. Every nook and cranny of her home was adorned with lights, and each tabletop displayed a miniature Christmas scene. The holiday season was a big deal to Dorothy, and she started cooking for Christmas right after Thanksgiving, continuing until after New Year's. She made several kinds of cookies, cinnamon bread, fruitcakes, fresh breads, and homemade moonshine, which she called "wine." She carried these traditions into her nineties, making the holidays special for her 12 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Though small in stature, Dorothy was mighty in spirit. Her grandson Henry remembers the time she caught him and his friend smoking a cigarette at the bus stop. In front of all the kids, she "blessed them out," as she would say, then slapped him—and to everyone’s amusement, she turned around and slapped the friend as well! Her great-grandson Yonas describes her side-eye as “iconic.” Dorothy’s love language was gifts, and she received every gift, no matter how small, with big expressions of gratitude. Her greatest treasure was her family, and she proudly

displayed pictures of them throughout her home, with framed photos on every surface in every room.

Dorothy spent little time in leisure. Even in her downtime, she was always busy gardening, sewing (her family still finds pins hidden in the couch cushions from her work), watching cooking shows, and reading cookbooks. She loved children, poodles, shopping, and taking pride in her yard. Her grass was always the softest and greenest on the block, year after year. Dorothy was a woman of strong faith. Her granddaughter, Sarah, recalls that she prayed every night, found inspiration in the Bible, and kept it under her pillow, often marking the pages she returned to frequently. Dorothy was also known for her love of fashion, especially hats and matching shoes, and she always kept her nails painted in her favorite color—red.

For much of her life, Dorothy worked as a domestic laborer, unofficially retiring at the age of 90. She lived a full and vibrant life, constantly working to make everything beautiful in her own way. Dorothy passed away on January 5, 2025, in her home, surrounded by loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her mother Sarah, father Clarence, husband Henry, her siblings Hazel, Marion, and Michael, and her sons Junie and Alan. Dorothy is survived by her sister Patrica Milton, brother William Sanders, her children Diane Davenport, Jamie Jones, and David Parsons, along with her 12 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

Dorothy’s legacy of love, strength, and resilience will continue to inspire all who knew her