Dorlene House (Mansfield)'s Obituary
Dorlene House daughter of Otis and Malissa Dye Welton was born November 25, 1932 in Douglas County, Missouri, and departed this life January 15, 2021 in Springfield at the age of eighty-eight years, one month, and twenty-nine days.
On July 20, 1952 she was united in marriage to Ronnie House, and to this union they were blessed with two children.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ronnie on August 19, 1990, her parents, two brothers, Hubert Welton and Berchie Welton, and two sisters, Reba Dry and Jo Brake.
Dorlene is survived by her daughter, Ronna Brazeal and husband Russ, and her son, John House and wife Jana, all of Mansfield, Missouri; eight grandchildren; Jeremy Jones and wife Juli of Spring Hill, Kansas, Stephanie Goings and husband Jason of Strafford, Missouri, Jennifer Christian and fiancé Chris Liles of Farmington, Arkansas, Stephen House and wife Bethany of Strafford, Preston Goss and wife Maile of Springfield, Chelsea Ames and husband Drew of Ozark, Tim Brazeal and wife Rochelle and Tom Brazeal and fiancé Kelsey Becker, all of Mansfield; twelve great-grandchildren; Easton, Cooper, and Porter Jones, Elliott and Emerson Goings, Madison Jones, Alexia and Ayden House, Weston Moore, Bayli, Hoyt, and Eli Brazeal. She will also be remembered and loved by her sister, Leora Nall of Caldwell, Idaho; along with several other relatives and many, many, friends.
Although her grandchildren may have been the first to call their loving grandmother “MeMa”, everyone in her family would use it when speaking to or about Dorlene. The name proved to be as contagious as her bright smile and affection for everyone in her life.
She was born and raised in Douglas County, Missouri and graduated from Ava High School in the Class of 1950. She enjoyed keeping in touch with her classmates over the years. After she and Ronnie were married, they lived in Fairbanks, Alaska for 2 years while he was stationed at the Fairbanks Army Base. After leaving the Army they moved to Mansfield in 1955 where they started House’s Shoe Store.
Dorlene was a devoted wife and homemaker and started working at the Bank of Mansfield in 1968 “just” to make enough money to put “wall to wall” carpet in their home and make life better for her family. She liked her job, but she especially loved the people she could help while at the bank and continued to work there until retiring in 1995. The same year the family closed the shoe store.
Dorlene made a profession of faith in Christ many years ago and faithfully attended the Mansfield Cumberland Presbyterian Church until her health failed.
She was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, charter member of the Mansfield PEO Chapter JM, and was the Bloodmobile Director in Mansfield for many years.
In her spare time, she was involved with her family and loved watching them grow and participate in activities. If there was ever anything that she could do to help she would embrace the opportunity. She loved working with her flowers in the yard, and was a seamstress, quilter, and an avid bridge player. A special group of friends had a “high stakes” card game every Friday night for over 30 years and it’s been said that Dorlene used the same jar of pennies the entire time. “MeMa” loved to travel having taken the opportunities to visit many countries and 49 states, but some of her most cherished memories were from the time the family spent together at the lake.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Teresa Kennedy for her assistance these last two years. Her love and care allowed “MeMa” to remain in her home and close to all that she cherished.
Dorlene was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and a very caring neighbor and friend who was always willing to help others. We celebrate her life and accomplishments and will always remember her smile and special times we had together.
Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 23, 2021 in Holman-Howe Funeral Home, Mansfield, with burial to follow in the Mansfield Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until service time Saturday in the funeral home. Due to Covid-19, masks are required.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mansfield Cumberland Presbyterian Church or Mansfield Order of the Eastern Star.
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