Dorothy Kaiser, 85, went to be with the Lord on January 3, 2006. She was born May 20, 1920, to Reverend R. R. and Florence Kaiser. Most of her childhood and school years were spent in McPherson, Kansas.

Dottie came to Richland, WA in 1949 and went to work for General Electric as a key punch operator, then a few months later was promoted to supervisor, then to an analyst. Dottie retired in 1983 after 35 years of service with Boeing at the Federal Building. She was a longtime member of Northwest United Protestant Church.

Dottie was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Robert, Bill and Wayne Kaiser; sister-in-law and best friend Marcella.

She is survived by her three nieces, Judy Hostetler and husband Bob of Coeur d’Alene, ID, Sharon Gardner and husband Bob of Kennewick, WA, with whom she lived her last three years, and Cindy Miller and husband Gary of Four Lakes, WA; and by many great-nieces and –nephews who will miss her very much.

Dottie liked to play Bingo, card games, dominos, Yahtzee, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and loved family gatherings.

Here are a few excerpts from a Christmas letter written by her nephew Gary Gardner in 1998: “As I sat down to write this letter I tried to reflect and think about one word that would say it all. Who was Aunt Dot to me? And several words come to mind: loving, good humored, compassionate, out going, trusting, intelligent, but to wrap it up into one word – that word would be Colorful. My earliest memories of you, Aunt Dot, were when you would call me by several names, Larry, Jerry, and even sometimes Gary! And that same tradition carried on with my son: you usually go through the whole gambit, Jason, Jacob, Jonathan, oh I mean Justin! When my cousin Doug and I were teenagers, we both thought your blue Charger was the coolest car in the world. I believe that every family has an Aunt Dottie. That’s the person in the family that unusual and funny things seem to happen to. From your purse catching fire, to your bathing cap blowing up, to you walking across the stage, not knowing a performance was going on ‘upstage’! Or the countless times that I’ve called you and tried delivering flowers or refrigerators. Aunt Dot, I have been truly blessed to be able to listen to you tell me about our family roots and about my grandparents and great-grandparents. When Grandpa was alive, I was too young to care about my roots. I missed out on the stories he could have told me. You have allowed them to live through you. Although I can remember great-grandmother, “Great Mother” according to Tim. You have given me wonderful insight on who my great-grandfather was, and who I hope to be like. And now that I’m to be a grandfather, I will continue to tell the stories with great pride about the people and the places of our past generations. As far back as I can remember you and Grandma spent countless hours playing cards and games, but you always had the courage to go on and not dwell on the sad things, but you would remember the good times and how each person had touched your life. I hope that I can be like that. Dottie, as I close this letter, I want you to know that I love you very much and that God has truly blessed me and our family with a wonderful aunt like you. I would also like to reaffirm my promise to you. As long as I’m alive, I will make sure that there are flowers at the cemetery on Memorial Day and also on your birthday.” Love, Gary.

“I love you Dottie, -- good night, I’ll see you in the morning.” Sharon

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one. I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles while life is done. I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.

We would like to thank all the nurses and volunteers at the Hospice House – they are wonderful. Also, many thanks to Lauri and De of Aging and Longterm Care, who taught me Sharon so much about dementia.

Memorial service will be at Northwest United Protestant Church, 1312 Sacramento Blvd., Richland at 2:00 PM Saturday, January 7, 2006. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House, 2108 W. Entiat, Kennewick, WA 99336, or to Northwest United Protestant Church, 1312 Sacramento, Richland, WA 99354.