Dorothy Margaret Creel

Dorothy Creel, 92, of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire, formerly of Bonita, California, passed away at home on February 27, 2016, in the company of her loving family. Born Dorothy Margaret Cawthorne on December 28, 1923 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she is predeceased by her late husband James W. Creel, her parents, William and Grace Cawthorne and siblings William, Grace, Donald, Robert and George Cawthorne, Audrey House, and Edith Diamond.

Dorothy (known as “Dottie” or “Pearl” by her friends and family) enjoyed a rich career in Civil Service, serving as Administrative Secretary to a long line of Commanding Officers at the San Diego Naval Station, where she was often called “Captain Creel” by those who loved her there. Prior to moving to San Diego, she served in Washington DC at The Pentagon.

Dottie was a wonderful mother to her only daughter, Patricia Creel Pike, and son-in-law William Stewart Pike, of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire, formerly of Carlsbad, California. She lit up at the mention of her only grandson, Forrest James Pike, currently attending Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, whom she lovingly called her “favorite grandson.”

Dottie moved to New Hampshire in 2011 to share her life with her daughter, son-in-law and grandson and became a well-loved member of the community. Her independent spirit will be missed by all who knew her, but there are tears of joy sprinkled among the tears of sadness, as her faith was strong and she is now in Heaven in the arms of Jesus Christ, joined with her husband and the family members who went home before her. In addition to her immediate family, Dottie is survived by her sister, Geraldine Faerber of Naples, Florida, brother, Fred Cawthorne, of Menifee, California, numerous nieces and nephews across the country, and untold friends who loved her.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Nashua Church of Christ in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. Formal services will be held at St. Rose of Lima Church in Chula Vista, California, on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to: Home, Health and Hospice Care of Merrimack, New Hampshire. Their loving care will never be forgotten.