Dorothy Major Strawn, formerly of Port St. Lucie, Florida, died Sunday, March 26, 2006, in Storm Lake, Iowa at the age of 81.
She was born to Sidney H. and Aura Florence Alward Major in Chicago, Illinois, moving with her family to Storm Lake at an early age. Her older sister, Caroline Dryer of Austin, Texas, also died March 26, 2006.
Dorothy graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1942 and from Iowa State Teacher’s College in 1946, later teaching high school English in Galva and in Storm Lake.
She married Willis Strawn July 24, 1945, in Steele County, Minnesota, traveling with him to many destinations during his army career, including Germany. Willis and Dorothy had 2 sons, Willis II, and Robert. When Willis retired from the army in 1963, the family moved back to Storm Lake. Dorothy was active in the Buena Vista County Hospital Auxiliary and a volunteer for the Storm Lake Library. Along with many other volunteers, she assisted with moving all the books from the Carnegie Library to the new library building.
In September, 1972 Dorothy and Willis moved to a houseboat and sailed down the Mississippi River, through the Gulf of Mexico, and up the Atlantic Coast of Florida. In 1975 they settled in Stuart, Florida, where she was a volunteer for the Martin County Library. She served as Secretary and President of the Mariner Cay Property Owners Association. Dorothy was an avid reader, seamstress, and golfer.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 54 years in 1999, son Robert in 2003 and brother-in-law Robert Dryer, 1984.
She is survived by her son Willis II (Karen) of Storm Lake; brother Dave (JoAnn), Hot Springs, Arkansas; grandson Willis III (Patty) Strawn, N. Sioux City, South Dakota; granddaughter Laura Beth (Tod) Stokes of Sioux City, Iowa; great-grandsons Willis IV and Jackson Strawn and Nathan Stokes; and several nieces and nephews. She is also remembered by her friend and caregiver Marian Maat and husband Richard Prince, of Fort Pierce, Florida.
Memorials in Dorothy’s honor will be made to BV County Community Foundation, c/o Bill Strawn, President, 3030 E. Lakeshore, Storm Lake, Iowa 50588.
