Dorothy Spangler Lemmon, age 98, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2018. Dotty Lemmon was born May 14, 1919, in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, the oldest of five children. She was the first in her family to pursue an education beyond high school and graduated as a registered nurse in 1938. While on staff at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania, she met her husband, Dr. G. Bruce Lemmon, Jr. They were married May 8, 1942.

Friends and family were central to Dotty's life. She enjoyed many activities over the years, including entertaining at home, cooking, playing bridge, attending concerts and plays, bird watching, and picnicking and camping with her family. She was active at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church, and in earlier years had been member of the Binnie Clements Guild and the chancel choir. Dotty also volunteered for the Springfield Symphony, the Greene County Medical Auxiliary, and for Hopewell, a community service organization.

In the 1975 Dotty returned to nursing after a nearly three-decade hiatus. Patients and co-workers immediately recognized her special warmth and caring. She served the medical profession with distinction and retired with her husband in 1983.

Dotty and Bruce traveled frequently throughout the world for over 25 years, often with friends and family. There were also many joy-filled family reunions and celebrations, one of the most memorable for Dotty's 80th birthday. The cards sent and tributes given to her by her children, grandchildren and old friends were a powerful reminder of how many lives were touched by her quiet, strong support and love.

She is survived by daughters Natalie Parker and son-in-law Joe of Longmont, Colorado , and Dorothy Manners and son-in-law Len of Strafford; son Bruce Lemmon and daughter-in-law Jean of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and sister Natalie Stepp of Plantation, Florida; six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Manor at Elfindale at 3:30 P.M., Sunday, March 11, 2018 under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri; Coach House, c/o Schweitzer United Methodist Church of Springfield; or Boys and Girls Towns of Missouri, P.O. Box 189, St. James, MO 65559.