Dorothy Mary (Howard) Sauter, loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend passed away peacefully April 27, 2020.  She was born April 13, 1921 in Waukesha, Wisconsin to Walter and Caroline (Wurms) Howard.

Following high school graduation, Dorothy worked for the telephone company before enlisting in the Coast Guard in 1943, where she met her husband of 50 years, Frank Sauter.  Following WWII they were married on May 11, 1946 and settled in southern California for 15 years before moving to east Tennessee.  There Dorothy's hobby of sewing led to a job at J.C. Penney Company where she enjoyed her employment of 13 years.  They retired to Springfield in 1986 where they became members of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; Dorothy was actively involved with the Women's Council and headed up the Lunch Bunch for many years.  Dorothy and Frank enjoyed their retirement years travelling coast to coast with Sunnyland Travel.  She was also a dedicated Mercy Hospital Auxiliary volunteer for 17 years.  At 95 years of age she joined the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., where she was honored for her service to her country; Dorothy was also the first woman who served in WWII to be included in the Springfield Veteran's Day Parade in 2015.

She joins in Heaven her husband Frank Sauter; her son, Bob Sauter; and 3 siblings.  Dorothy is survived by two daughters Debbie (Bob) Williams and Patti (Mark) Graham; daughter-in-law, Peggy Sauter; brother-in-law Tom (Louise) Sauter; grandchildren Jeff (Jill) Williams, Kristi Williams, Kelli (Tim) Paul, Dan (Lori) Sauter, Tom (Leah) Sauter, Matthew (Sally) Sauter; Eric (Kelly) Graham, Brad (Olivia) Graham; great-grandchildren Bryce, Allison, Andrew, Sammy, Claire, Luke, Frank and Eva; nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Throughout her life, her hands stayed busy. They knitted and sewed, wrote letters and solved crosswords, tended gardens and pulled weeds, applied band aids to knees and tied ribbons in ponytails. But most importantly, they held and cared for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Though her hands grew wrinkled and trembled over her 99 years, they never once wavered in the love they shared with those around her. Now, God has reached out, taking her hands in His own, leading her to be with Him in Heaven. Though we may no longer feel their touch on our own, when we look at our hands, it will be hers we remember, feeling their love and support always, forever.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Immaculate Conception Parish (St. Vincent de Paul), 3555 S. Fremont Ave., Springfield, MO 65804, ic-parish.org; Disabled American Veterans, dav.org; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, shop.stjude.org. Online condolences may be made at www.gormanscharpf.com .

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, October 7, 2020 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.