Dorothy was born in Shidler, Okla., on July 20, 1923, to William and Ora Viola Stice. She was the oldest of their three children. She married Joseph (Joe) W. Severns on July 27, 1941, in St. Elmo, Ill. (Joe preceded her in death on Feb. 5, 1987.) From that union, they had three children and settled in Decatur, Ill. In 1958, the family moved west to Cortez, Colo., where Joe worked in the oil fields. He was transferred to Moab, Utah, where the family relocated in 1960. Dorothy worked at the Moab Credit Bureau for several years until she and Joe were hired as managers of the Ramada Inn, then on as managers of the Moab Golf Course. She was then hired by Moab Gas Company and worked there until retirement in 1983.
Dorothy was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church and enjoyed singing in the choir. She was also a lifetime charter member of the Moab Golf Course. Dorothy remained in Moab after Joe’s passing, until 1994, when she relocated to Grand Junction, Colo.
Dorothy was a loving, soft-spoken “gentle giant,” always wearing a beautiful smile. She was kind and thoughtful and willing to help whenever and wherever she was needed. She would provide transportation to church members, feed them her delicious cooking when they were ill. As for her family, she was the rock and hub of our world. Her departure has left a huge hole in our hearts and she will be painfully missed, a void that is impossible to fill.
She is survived by two daughters, Karen Coursey and Gloria Miller, both of Grand Junction, Colo.; a son, David (Delores) Severns, of Moab, Utah; seven grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; her parents; a brother, William Stice Jr.; sister, Vivian Fisher; son-in-law, Roger Coursey; granddaughter, Jodha Reedy; and two grandsons, Davey Severns and Joey Mitchell.
A graveside service was held Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Moab. A viewing was held Dec. 4 at Spanish Valley Mortuary.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.