Dora Irene Houser's Obituary
Dora Irene Houser, daughter of William Thomas and Elsie Evalyn Ham McInturf, was born March 7, 1918, in Howe, Oklahoma. She departed this life Monday, July 10, 2006, in Good Samaritan Hospital, in Lafayette, Colorado, at the age of eighty-eight years, four months, and three days. On November 18, 1942, in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, she was united in marriage to John Vernon Houser, and to this union one daughter and one son were born. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John, on May 25, 1997; a son, Dale Ray Houser; two brothers, Charles and Coy McInturf; and a sister, Dorthea McInturf Dilday. Dora is survived by a daughter, Mary Kay Williams, and her husband, Gary, of Golden, Colorado; three grandchildren, Megan Mesquita, and her husband, Cezar, of Lincoln, Nebraska, Anna Nunez, and her husband, Daniel, of Chicago, Illinois, and Brandon Houser, and his wife, Melanie, of Farmington, Missouri; four great-grandchildren, Diego, Sofia, and Elena Mesquita, and Charles Houser; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. She was born and raised in Oklahoma where she graduated from high school and was the first member of her family to attend college. She began her career in elementary education in 1943, in a one-room school house in rural Oklahoma. For the next thirty-three years she taught in Oklahoma, Illinois, and Iowa. She also had taught in the Air Force Dependents School in Prestwick, Scotland. In January of 1986, she and John retired to the Lake of the Ozarks and made their home. About eight years ago, Dora moved to Golden, Colorado to be near her daughter. Dora had made her profession of faith in Christ and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Macks Creek, Missouri. During her early years, she had taught Sunday school, and always enjoyed attending church and Bible study. She also belonged to the Camdenton Retired Teachers Association for several years. Throughout her life, she loved to travel and had collected bells and spoons from many of her trips. She enjoyed walking at least one mile everyday, and liked attending bingo since moving into her apartment complex in Colorado. She also enjoyed the Saturday morning sing-a-longs and played the piano for Bible study, as long as the members chose songs that were in her shaped note hymnal. She possessed a delightful wit and sense of humor which she shared with her family and friends. Dora was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories she created for her family and friends. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 15, 2006, in the Agent Funeral Home, Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Burial will be in Sallisaw City Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton, Missouri.
What’s your fondest memory of Dora?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dora?
Share a story where Dora's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dora you’ll never forget.
How did Dora make you smile?