Dortha Sadler

SADLER Dortha Mae (nee Doyle), 91, of Edmond died peacefully in her sleep in the early morning on Saturday, January 26, 2013. Dortha was born October 22, 1921 in Perry, Oklahoma to George Edward II and Verna Hale Doyle. Dortha attended both St. Joseph’s Academy Grammar School and Perry High School. She played the glockenspiel in the Perry High School band and at Tonkawa Junior College where she earned an associate degree in Commerce. She later attended Central State College in Edmond where she received her baccalaureate degree in Accounting. There she met Russel Eugene Sadler, the love of her life. They were married on Thanksgiving Day, 1942 in Perry, Oklahoma. After years working as a bookkeeper in the construction industry, Dortha, along with Russ, established Sooner Equipment Company in January 1959, becoming the first dealers of Ditch Witch trenchers for Charles Machine Works in Perry. Dortha was dedicated to her family and her home. In 1964, after Russ’ life-changing accident leading to partial paralysis, Dortha was faced with the unimaginable, daunting task of running the family business while being there for her loving husband and her three daughters, ages 18, 3 and 6 weeks. She faced this chapter in her life with courage and grace, all the while keeping her wonderful sense of humor. Russ and Dortha retired in 1976. They continued to enjoy RVing and traveling with their family and friends. Together they enriched the lives of their daughters by exposing them to the natural beauty of the United States as well as instilling in them a love of art. Dortha and Russ were both lifetime members and docents of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. There, Dortha was commended for 30 years of service in 2009. Dortha was an avid, and excellent, bridge player and enjoyed many years playing couples, duplicate and marathon bridge with her beloved bridge buddies. She enjoyed painting, loved numbers, puzzles and crosswords and was very proud that she could work the most difficult of crypto quotes without a pencil. She was a quick wit and could spin a rhyme for any occasion. Dortha is preceded in death by her loving husband Russ, their infant daughter, Dee Anne and brothers, George Edward III, Robert Emmitt and LeRoy Doyle. She is survived by her daughter and son in law Donna Jo and Lt. Col (Ret.) David Lee Holt of Hampton, Virginia; daughter and son in law Jan Marie and Jeffrey Eugene Provine of Cypress, Texas; and her daughter Terri Lynne Sadler of Oklahoma City; five grandchildren, Elisabeth, Dava, Caty, Branton and Alec; two great grandchildren, Kristopher and Anna and numerous nieces and nephews. One sister Aloma Case Edwards of Skiatook, Oklahoma also survives her. Dortha was like a sister to Russ’ surviving siblings, sister Eletha and brothers Conn and Wallace and his deceased siblings, sister Mayxe and brothers Coy, James and JD and their families. A celebration of Dortha’s life will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 11:00a.m., Baggerley Funeral Home, 930 South Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Dortha’s honor to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, 1700 N.E. 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73111 (nationalcowboymuseum.org) or St. Jude’s Children Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (st.judes.org)