Dorothy Messer

Dorothy Maurine Messer, 101, daughter of Clyde and Blanche McCullough, died on Monday, August 15, 2016 at Via Christi Village in Manhattan, Kansas. Dorothy was born in Paola, Kansas on January 1, 1915. She graduated from Paola High School in 1932, and attended College of Paola and Pittsburg State College. She taught at East Valley and South Elementary Schools in Paola. Dorothy and her husband, Claude, owned and operated Messer Rexall Drug Company in Paola. She and Claude were married in Paola in 1938 and he preceded her in death in 1995. Dorothy was a charter member of the Lighthouse Presbyterian Church in Paola, Chapter DQ PEO, Eastern Star, Miami County Historical Society, Paola Hospital Auxiliary, and District #368 Endowment Association. Dorothy was a member of the popular singing quartet of the 1930s called "The Cotton Dollies." She is survived by a daughter Claudette (Dave) Laurie of Manhattan, Kansas and a son Phil (Donna) Messer of Naples, Florida, and five grandchildren, Mark (Shanna) Laurie, Matt (Melissa) Laurie, Mike (Angie) Laurie, Kelly (Robert) Libor, Greg (Jayne) Messer, and nine great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 20th at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS with Rev. Kirk Johnston officiating. Burial will follow at Paola Cemetery. A 1:00 visitation at the funeral home will precede the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lighthouse Presbyterian Church in Paola. To share a memory of Dorothy or leave a special condolence message for her family, please click the Share Memories tab.