Dorothy June Dunn

Feisty until the end, Dede, also known as Dorothy, was independent minded, fiercely faithful, opinionated and loving. She was the youngest of 4 children and her ‘Daddy’s” favorite. She grew up on a farm. Both of her parents were deaf. However, you didn’t get to pull too many tricks of them, they were wise to her brothers and sister. She met her “Tommy’ while in high school. They married young. Tommy was in the Army during the war and a valuable part of the aviation world on the West Coast. As a radio technical officer, he helped keep the war movement informed and moving. The couple moved back to Kansas City where Tommy became a jeweler and Dede became a master seamstress at a uniform company that supplied coats, etc. to major companies including Kansas City’s own airline, TWA.

She had a sharp mind, creative with thread, needle, yarn or material. She remembered dates, events and most of all, she remembered YOU! She dealt all with a fair mind, kindness and concern. However, do not cross her wires, she would come out of her corner ready to defend or fend her stance, her belief or her interpretation. She lived in many areas but her longest residence was at Opportunities Pavilion in Kansas City. She was a loving member of a family she started off being a ‘nanny’ for and quickly transitioned into the family with her love, caring and kindnesses.

She loved to travel. She went with the “Jolly Sixties’ on trips or on bus tours around the Midwest or with her ‘family’ to New Mexico, Hawaii, the Lake, London and many a side trips to local destinations. From festivals to Christmas, from graduations to weddings, breakfasts to silly lunches, she was with us to celebrate or be celebrated. Her best memories are of her youngest charge being taken to Jolly Sixties with her. At 4, the little lady was made an honorary member.

There was hardly a day that would go by without a phone call from her starting with the phrase, “Whatda know?” or “Howdy-do!” Then she would chatter on like magpie, recounting her day or some incident. At 8:00pm, faithfully, the phone would ring. The end of the day’s events would unravel for her. She loved to chatter about what happened in the hallway or commodities or Bingo.

Those of us who got to be with her the most, will be saddened not because she is gone. What we will miss is her down home honesty and the deep love she had for each of us, young and old. She will be missing “LillyAnn’s” antics she loved to be told about, Mallory’s drawings, Graces’ shy smile with twinkly blue eyes, Will’s bear hugs, Zoe’s ‘cat ears’, Anna’s beautiful long hair and notes, Andrew’s antics, Charlie and his books, and Kenny’s ability to remember long words and saying to his Gigi, “I love you with ALL MY HEART!” She loved when he used to say this and his BIG hugs to her when he sat next to his DEDE.

From St. Joe to Kansas City to Leawood, those lives she touched will never be the same. “Where ya been?” is not going to be asked without thinking of her smile attached. Now it’s our turn to say to her, we love you, Dede, with ALL OUR HEART.” We sure are going to miss you. We are glad you could be with us until you were 102!

A funeral service for Dorothy will be held Friday, January 7, 2022 at 10:30 AM at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer and Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. Following the funeral service will be a committal service at 11:30 AM at Mount Moriah Cemetery South.