Dorothy Geneva Berry Emerson-Lee's Obituary
Dorothy “Dottie” Geneva Berry Emerson-Lee died peacefully at her home in San Lorenzo on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at the age of 93. Born in Jump River, Wisconsin to Sidney and Ethel Geneva Longanecker Berry, the 8th of 10 children, she grew up a country girl. She attended school in Berthold, North Dakota and loved drama class and performing in school plays. Working in a grocery store, she met Marvin Allen Emerson. He would toss chocolate kisses to her. They were married on Jan. 2, 1943 in Vancouver, WA. While Marvin served his country as a pilot in the Army Air Corp, Dottie worked in the shipyards in Portland, Oregon. After the war, they got busy building a family and brought 5 children into their marriage. Dottie was active in all her children activities, including school and church events, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Rainbow Girls and DeMolay. She loved creating and sewing clothes for her children. She and Marvin raised their children “old school”, knowing right from wrong, using manners, and being thoughtful and considerate of others. Sadly, Marvin passed away at 45 on May 30, 1969. Dottie remained in their home in San Lorenzo and began working again, first at Three Crosses Church in Castro Valley, then the Masonic Home in Hayward, Cut’n Ready Foods and finally San Leandro Police Dept. where she retired after 20 years of service in 1994. In 1980 Dottie met George Lee and they married on July 11, 1988. George brought his two grown children and a grandson into the marriage. George and Dottie enjoyed bowling, bicycling, traveling in their camper and gardening together. Dottie also loved singing in the choir at church, crocheting and cross stitching, but most of all she loved her family and friends and time spent with them. She is survived by her husband, George Lee, 4 of her 5 children – JudyLou Kilroy Davis of Teton Valley, Idaho; Barbara Jo “Sam” Newton (John) of Dothan, AL; David Lee Emerson (Inez) of Roosevelt, UT, and Margaret Lola “Meg” Meyers of San Jose, CA; step-children Audrey Gustafson (Kevin Wayde, deceased) of Silver Springs, NV and James Samuel Lee (Debbie, deceased) of Hayward, CA; three grandchildren: Jaime Beth Kilroy Chaney (Jory) of Eureka, MT; Jessica Marie Kilroy of Teton Valley, ID and Nevada City, CA; Jason Edward Kilroy (Janelle) of Kalispell, MT; 9 step-grandchildren: Meghan Kirt Newton Brewer (Steven) of Chicago, Russ Galvin (Chrystal), Dennis Kilgore (Trina), Melissa Galvin, Tramandra “Mandy” Moralli, all of Utah, Dominque “Nickie” Moralli of Arkansas, Morgan Emerson and Timmy Emerson of Roosevelt, UT; and Kevin Gustafson, Jr. of Nevada. Also 2 great-grandchildren – Allie Ellen Sartor and Aubrey Dawn Chaney of Eureka, MT; and 17 step-great-grandchildren – Zachary, Dakotah, Shane, Regan, Kayden and Phalynn Galvin; Kiara, Nicholas, Kanyon and Hunter Kilgore; Jasmine, Anastasia and Hally Galvin all of Utah; Chase, Rocky, Dennis and Breona Moralli all of Arkansas; two sisters – Edna Irene Berry Keiser of North Dakota and Marlene Berry Stromwall DeLong of Minnesota, and plethora of nieces and nephews (78 on the Berry side and 19 on the Emerson side). Dottie was preceded in death by her first husband Marvin Allen Emerson, son Gary Allen Emerson, her parents, siblings Emmert Ellsworth Berry, Gerald Oscar Berry, Beulah Matilda Berry Glasner, Henry Wesley Berry, Helen Louise Berry Anderson Laughridge, Wayne Marlin Berry and Paul Homer Berry. Memorial Service will be at The Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward on Friday, October 24, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. We thank the staff of Sutter Health Care at Home (especially Ali and Charlie) and independent home caregiver Ella Young, for their loving care and support these past few weeks.
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