Dorothy Fern Beach, beloved daughter, sister, aunt and friend, passed away at home on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. She was 101 years old.
Dorothy was born at the family farm in Washtenaw County on September 15, 1918 to parents Leigh and Fern Beach. Her family was complete when Dorothy’s sister Henrietta was born three years later.
Dorothy attended the Beach Country School (named for the Beach Family) in the little one room red schoolhouse just up the road from her family’s farm. She attended Chelsea High School graduating in 1936. Dorothy continued her education at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. Upon graduation in 1940, Dorothy began her teaching career with Jackson Public Schools. She taught kindergarten for 44 years. Most of her teaching career was at Helmer Elementary where she taught multi generations of the same families.
After retirement in 1984, Dorothy continued to enjoy a very active life. She was in charge of the Chelsea First United Methodist Church Nursery class for over 50 years. Additionally, she volunteered in her dear friend Sherri Plank’s classroom for many years sharing her love and teaching experience. For many years she was a volunteer buyer with the Chelsea Community Hospital Volunteer Gift Shop.
Dorothy was a good friend to many. She lovingly maintained the family farm where she lived her entire life. We will all remember trips to the farm for front porch picnics, watching the sheep graze and all the wonderful moments of good fellowship.
Dorothy is pre-deceased by her parents, Leigh and Fern, and her brother-in-law, Ralph Johnson. She is survived by her sister, Henrietta Johnson, of Midland, Texas, her nephew, Edward Johnson, and wife Nicki, of Spring, Texas, and her niece, Lenea Weatherford, of Midland, Texas. Her great-nephews and great-nieces are Matthew Weatherford (wife Leah) of Big Spring, Texas, Nathalie Johnson (husband Ryan Krug) of Spring, Texas, Callie Reams (husband Mark) of Midland, Texas, and Rhys Johnson also of Midland. Great-great nieces and great-great-nephews are Michael and Zoey Reams, Elleanor Weatherford, and Theodore and Sybil Krug.
We would like to acknowledge the following very special friends who helped make Dorothy’s life on the farm complete: Sue Scibor, Marge Harris, Sherri Plank, the Richard Bareis Family, Holly Porter, Heidi Herrst and of course, Kathy Herrst, who so lovingly cared for Dorothy the past 10 years.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, where visitation will be held on Tuesday July 21, 2020 from 5-7 p.m. Graveside services will be at Oak Grove Cemetery on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Joy Barrett officiating. Funeral Directors are following current CDC recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and those in attendance will be instructed accordingly; masks must be worn.
Honorary pallbearers are David Bareis, Tom Quinn, Fernando Hermosillo, Ron Herrst, Ronnie Herrst and John Porter.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to the Memorial Fund of First United Methodist Church, 128 Park Street, Chelsea, Michigan 48118.
