Dorothy Vera Knowles

Dorothy Knowles

Dorothy Knowles, 85, of Unionville, MO, passed away at the Putnam County Memorial Hospital in Unionville, MO, on Friday, September 7, 2012.
Dorothy Vera (Lawson) Knowles was born in rural Livonia, MO, on June 23, 1927, the daughter of Thomas and Lellia Blanche (Guffey) Lawson, who preceded her in death. She married Jimmie Lee Knowles who passed away on January 19, 1961.
Dorothy spent most of her married life in the Hartford, MO, and Exline, IA, areas. She later moved to the Unionville, MO, area to care for her father-in-law. She went to work at the Dairy Lane after her children were in school and also worked at Elaine’s Restaurant. Dorothy worked 15 years as a dietician at the Putnam County Memorial Hospital, retiring in 1991.
Dorothy made and sold craft items and loved to write songs and poetry. She liked to garden and cook and loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, helping to raise one grandchild, Cameron Knowles, after his mother passed away. Dorothy loved the Lord and was known for reading and trying to live out the teachings of scripture. She was a member of Hartford Baptist Church until moving to Unionville where she joined the Unionville Assembly of God Church.
Dorothy is survived by three children, Sandra Flynn and husband Irvin of Kirksville, MO; Jimmie Knowles of Unionville, MO; and Sharon Foster of Kirksville, MO. Eight grandchildren also survive and they are Melissa Mortimer, Rodney Foster, Michael Foster, Elizabeth Welch, Mendy Haines, Glennie Knowles, Andrea Dalrymple, and Cameron Knowles. Fourteen great grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren also survive. Other survivors are a brother, Edgar Lawson and his wife Loretta of North Kansas City, MO, and a sister, Bonnie Salisbury of Gladstone, MO.
Dorothy was also preceded in death by a stillborn child, a granddaughter, Marcy Locust, a great grandson, Aaron Welch, a brother, Hollis Lawson, and four sisters, Edith West, Louise Bailey, Edna Lewis, and Roxie Eckles. A daughter-in-law, Jean Anne Knowles, also preceded her in death.
Funeral services for Dorothy Knowles will be at the Unionville Assembly of God at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012, Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Unionville Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the family to assist with funeral expenses and may be entrusted with Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.