Dorothy M. Weatherly

Dorothy Ward Weatherly, 85, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, February 16, 2016. Mrs. Weatherly was born in Nacogdoches but moved to Henderson at an early age. After graduation from Henderson High she attended Kilgore Junior College and Stephen F. Austin University where she earned her Master’s in Speech and Music. She was a school teacher in Fort Worth, at Beaumont High, Lamar University and Criswell Bible College in Dallas.

Dorothy was a longtime member of First Baptist Church, Beaumont and for several years a member of First Baptist Church in Arlington. In both churches she taught Bible classes at various levels from children to adults. In Beaumont, she was particularly blessed by her long association with Chinese and Deaf ministries and, more recently, with the Hispanic mission. Her love for Internationals led to many years teaching English as a Second Language and Citizenship classes. Dorothy had the gift of hospitality and exercised this gift during 24 years of devoted service as a volunteer at Baptist Hospital, logging over 4000 hours, and as a wedding coordinator for First Baptist Church.

Her father T.G. Ward and her mother Mae Buchanan Ward preceded her in death as well as her sister Tommye Davis of Arlington. Survivors include her husband of 58 years, H.F. Weatherly, daughter Jana Weatherly Roussel and son-in-law Joseph Roussel of Paris, France, grandchildren Robert Roussel of Orange, California and Claire Roussel of Montreal, Canada, niece Kay Davis of Arlington and nephew Gary Young of Houston.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, February 20 at 11:00 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home with visitation for family and friends one hour before. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Serenity Chapel Mausoleum. Among Dorothy’s favorite charities are First Baptist Church, David Jeremiah ministries (davidjeremiah.org) and Samaritans Purse (samaritanspurse.org).