(Part 1) I have many fond memories of my grandma, Dottie Goucher. 

Every summer when I was a child, my brother and I would visit our grandparents in Pasadena, Houston. The house was passed down from Dottie’s parents to her. There were luscious elephant ears and fragrant hibiscus plants. I would smell the hibiscus flowers and always end up with pollen on covering my nose. She thought that was so funny. We would watch the squirrels eat from the little feeder outside and swim around in the pool they set up for us. We would visit her neighbor and friend, Jane, and take grapefruit from the enormous tree outback. We would play with yard toys and run around like crazy things. We ate dump salad, sugar crust cake (her mother’s recipe), and delectable cookies in the kitchen covered with cow memorabilia and knick knacks. There were what seemed like a thousand framed photos to my young mind, each one holding its own story. They always had fans in the house, a comforting sound, and a specific smell, like grandma’s house, to return to each summer. 

Outside of the house, grandma and grandpa would take us on adventures. We always visited the NASA Space Center where we could see how much we weighed on each planet, eat space ice cream, and learn so many things. We visited the Children’s Museum where we stood in giant bubbles. We loved Moody Gardens and the Kemah Boardwalk as well. She was ever the photographer, always capturing each moment and treasuring the memories. They would take us to the beach in Galveston and help us create chaos in the sand, ride boogie boards in the waves, and barbecue. She didn’t much care for swimming in the sea, but she did enjoy spending time with all of us. 

(Part 3) I have a fond memory of the day we were in the new dream house and she had gone through things when organizing and showed me a box of her old jewelry. She enjoyed showing off each necklace, bracelet, and pair of clip-on earrings she wore in the past, each one a fun bling costume piece. She gifted me the box and among others, I still wear the long strand of plastic pearls today. It is such fun to go back in time with those pieces and imagine her in her youth, showing off her sparkles.

I remember when I was young, she didn’t have her ears pierced (hence the clip-ons). This was a fun connection because my mom wouldn’t let me get my ears pierced yet. But then eventually she did and then shortly after, grandma got her ears pierced. We thought it was fun that we could both wear real earrings then. We also shared the same birthstone of garnet, so it was special to us that we both had garnet earrings. 

One year, grandpa got her an air hockey game table for Christmas. She was so competitive and loved to play against everyone. 

I could go on mentioning memories, but in summary, she was a wonderful lady who cared for those around her and loved us strongly. She loved her family, reading, taking photos, and having fun. She also loved her little Pomeranians and abhorred lizards or any creepy crawlies.  She had a comedic stripe in her personality as well, loving to laugh. She will be dearly missed. 

(Part 2) She always wanted everyone around her to be happy and provided for. She would constantly check in with us and see if there was something we needed or wanted. She always had Wet Wipes in her purse to clean our sticky little hands before we ate and we thought Wet Wipes were a fun novelty. After all, our parents just told us to wash our hands if they were dirty. 

Once I was older, grandma and grandpa moved into their dream house in La Porte. They were so excited. By this time, my youngest brother Adam was born. She loved playing with him and cooking new recipes, like chocolate oatmeal cookies, to accommodate his food allergies. When they came to visit us in Dallas, she would bring gallon Ziploc bags of our favorite treats. She would bring German chocolate cake for my dad’s birthday, haystacks in the fall, and dump salad for me. We would exchange photos and stories around the coffee table or at their favorite restaurant, Saltgrass. 

As I got older our preferred activities changed from playing with yard toys to shopping. Grandma and I both loved to shop. And we all loved to shop at Barnes and Noble. We would wander around the stacks of books, reading some here and there, and eventually finding one or a few to buy. We came to expect that Barnes and Noble gift card for holidays or birthdays or just because. It was like a tradition. 

Grandma used to wrap presents in these white Dillards boxes and then tape them shut as if a hazardous material were shut inside, no cracks left for it to leak out. It became a joke and the boys enjoyed it because they could break out their pocket knives to open the gifts. 



(Part 1) I have many fond memories of my grandma, Dottie Goucher. 

Every summer when I was a child, my brother and I would visit our grandparents in Pasadena, Houston. The house was passed down from Dottie’s parents to her. There were luscious elephant ears and fragrant hibiscus plants. I would smell the hibiscus flowers and always end up with pollen on covering my nose. She thought that was so funny. We would watch the squirrels eat from the little feeder outside and swim around in the pool they set up for us. We would visit her neighbor and friend, Jane, and take grapefruit from the enormous tree outback. We would play with yard toys and run around like crazy things. We ate dump salad, sugar crust cake (her mother’s recipe), and delectable cookies in the kitchen covered with cow memorabilia and knick knacks. There were what seemed like a thousand framed photos to my young mind, each one holding its own story. They always had fans in the house, a comforting sound, and a specific smell, like grandma’s house, to return to each summer. 

Outside of the house, grandma and grandpa would take us on adventures. We always visited the NASA Space Center where we could see how much we weighed on each planet, eat space ice cream, and learn so many things. We visited the Children’s Museum where we stood in giant bubbles. We loved Moody Gardens and the Kemah Boardwalk as well. She was ever the photographer, always capturing each moment and treasuring the memories. They would take us to the beach in Galveston and help us create chaos in the sand, ride boogie boards in the waves, and barbecue. She didn’t much care for swimming in the sea, but she did enjoy spending time with all of us. 
 

As Dottie's daughter in law for 28 years, I have had the joy of watching her hold her first granddaughter (Lilly), her second grandchild (Connor), and her last grandchild (Adam).  Each one of our children brought her immense joy and she gave them each unconditional love all the time.  She demonstrated her thoughtfulness in bringing home cooked meals and desserts every time she visited and sent them home with us when we visited.  When money was tight, she always found a way to give us things we needed quietly.  When the children were young, they were covered in love and hugs and kisses.  As they aged, they knew their grandmother adored them and always had.  I was lucky to have a mother in law who loved me like a daughter.  We had some great discussions about and conspired on occasion about the men in our lives.  She loved her husband and her two boys immensely. That love was ever present in her care for each one.

The first time I met Dottie, we had gone to eat at a restaurant.  Many years later, she told me that she knew at that first meeting that I would marry her son.  She said that she watched us together and the way we interacted  and knew that we were well matched.  Darren had even allowed me to taste some of the food on his plate and then he had eaten some of mine.  To her, this was a sure sign of our compatibility.  Almost 30 years later, she has been proven correct.  Mother does know best.

It is with heartfelt condolences that I’m sending love and prayers your way. Ms Dottie I’ll truly miss our talks we use to have while I cared for you. I’m very thankful to have been a part of you and your family. You were a feisty little lady and kept me straight. Rest on in Paradise enjoy my little feisty lady. You will forever be in my heart.

Cynthia Miles

Ms. Dottie, you will always hold a special place in my heart. It was a real pleasure to work with you. Fly high with the angels my sweet lady. 



I have many fond memories of my Mom, Dottie. One of them is when she sewed my first grade play costume. I was supposed to be a chihuahua. Mom sewed my costume she and Dad even made a great tail that curled behind me thanks to some fishing line!

We always had fun and one time my brother and I were in the above ground pool when Mom wanted us to come in the house. Being the boys we were, we tossed a wet towel at her from the pool and got her all wet. Instead of getting mad, she got us back! Mom fixed some iced tea for us when we went in the house. It tasted a little strong, but not unusually so. Mom asked us how our tea was and we told her it was fine. She looked odd, grabbed our tea to doctor it up some more and then we noticed the worcestershire sauce lol! I love you Mom and I'll always miss cutting up with you!

OBITUARY

Dorothy Lorene Goucher

January 11, 1948 – April 19, 2023

Grand View Funeral Home & Memorial Park/Bethany Cemetery

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