Dorothy Lounsbery

A gracious, compassionate, and selfless woman, Dorothy Lounsbery was a woman who was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She was hardworking and driven to do what needed to be done no matter the personal sacrifice involved. Dorothy was a loving wife who was perfectly suited to be a mother, and her children would say that as mothers go they had the very best. It was easy to see that she was guided by an unwavering faith that put the joy in her heart and lifted her up as the storms of life came her way. In Proverbs 31, the Bible states that a woman of noble character is worth far more than precious rubies, and Dorothy’s life journey is a living, breathing example of such a noble woman. Although she will be deeply missed, her family finds comfort in knowing that she is enjoying perfect peace in her eternal home.

Nestled within the vibrant decade of the Roaring Twenties was the year 1924 that is filled with numerous noteworthy events. The Wrigley Building was completed in Chicago while the streets of New York City were decorated with the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This was the decade that witnessed more affordable automobiles due to the implementation of the assembly line, and new radio stations that were taking to the airwaves every day. It was during this exciting year that a young family from Mattawan, Michigan, was thrilled with the birth of their healthy baby girl on June 21st. Dorothy Grace was welcomed into the world by her parents, George and May (King) Wright. She was the apple of her parents’ eye, and her mother was a bit overprotective while her father allowed Dorothy to be a bit more adventurous.

In many ways Dorothy experienced a typical upbringing. The Wright family owned an 80 acre farm in Mattawan that had been in the family since it was homesteaded to Dorothy’s grandfather. Her father was a hardworking farmer, and Dorothy learned how to work hard at a young age as well. She often spent time out in the field, but she did not like to pick pickles because she was not a fan of the snakes that always seemed to be lurking around the pickle patch. However, Dorothy was responsible for her own patch of pickles in order to pay for school clothes. She was a student at Mattawan Schools.

Life was forever changed for Dorothy when she met the young man with whom she would write a love story that would span more than 50 years. His name was Kenneth “Bud” Lounsbery, and they met because her father sold vegetables to Pretty Lake Vacation Camp where Bud was working at the time. He was from Kalamazoo, and it wasn’t long before he and Dorothy had established a friendship. True love soon blossomed, and with a desire to spend the rest of their lives together Dorothy and Bud eloped to Bryan, Ohio, and were married on July 19, 1941.

The newlyweds returned to Michigan and settled into the upstairs of the farmhouse until they bought a farm of their own on 64th Avenue in Mattawan. Together they were blessed with three children, Sharon, Butch, and Dick. In 1950, Dorothy began working at Sutherland Paper where she worked third shift and then came home to tend to the needs of her family. She remained there for 23 years before retiring. Always one to be busy, Dorothy also helped out on the farm - and she did this all in spite of contracting polio as an adult. She was a talented seamstress who made numerous things in her leisure time including several sock monkeys and Halloween costumes for her family. Dorothy also enjoyed doing crafts.

When her children grew older and had families of their own, Dorothy continued to treasure her loved ones. Everyone was loved and accepted with open arms, and each person knew that they were uniquely treasured. Dorothy was very much the matriarch of her family who taught her children and later her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even her great-great-grandchildren invaluable lessons such as working hard, offering unconditional love, and possessing a personal faith. These lessons were taught both in word and in deed, and Dorothy often stressed the idea that if you put Christ first, everything else will follow. She treasured her church home, and it was her strong faith and the love of her family that upheld her after her beloved Bud died in 1993.

As she entered her sunset years Dorothy continued to be a bustle of activity. She enjoyed being independent and never wanted to be a burden to others. She even continued to mow her lawn and water trees until 2013, and she also made centerpieces for her great-granddaughter’s wedding this past summer. Dorothy did slow down some this past year, but she was able to maintain her lifestyle with some help.

In everything she did, Dorothy Lounsbery was focused on how she could serve those around her. She was never one to measure success according to the world’s standards, rather, she was focused on exemplifying what it means to be a woman after God’s own heart. No matter what came her way, Dorothy had a positive outlook on life and fully embraced every moment she was given while holding her loved ones near. Life will never be the same without her here, but her timeless legacy that is deeply rooted in faith, generosity, and unconditional love will be carried on by those who follow her.

Dorothy Grace Lounsbery, of Mattawan, died on Thursday, March 20, 2014. Members of Dorothy’s family include her children: Sharon (Jim) Forden, Butch (Barb) Lounsbery, Dick (Kathy) Lounsbery, 14 grandchildren: Ken (Karen) Forden, Jeff (Kelli) Forden, Larry (Mary) Lounsbery, Laurie (Rob) Brooks, Karisa (Paul) Miller, Aron Lounsbery, Anson Lounsbery (Traci Fox), 26 great-grandchildren: Hannah, Zach, Sam, Sara, Jonah, Grayce (Micah), Garrett, Katherine, Sophie, Haley, Jake, Lexi, William, Kaye, Michael, Ashley (Russ), Dustin (Kaitlyn), Ryan, Gabby (Rob), Mackenzie, Caleb, Nolan, 3 great-great-grandchildren: Kenzly, Aubrey, Aaron. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Bud, and her grandson, Roy Forden. Learn more about Dorothy, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends on Sunday from 2-6 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Thompson, 60900 M-40, Paw Paw (657-3870). Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday at the same location. Burial will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery. Please visit Dorothy’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her guestbook before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Kalamazoo Free Methodist Church.