Dorless E. Robertson (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Mrs. Dorless E. Robertson, age 93 of Bolivar passed away on Thursday, January 2, 2014 at Marshfield Care Center after a brief illness.
She was born to the late Ferdie Ray and Nora Caroline (Lemons) Wood on December 14, 1920, in Hartville, Mo.
At an early age her family moved to Stockton where her father was a school teacher. About 1930 he moved his family to Bolivar. Dorless was baptized and became a member of the First Baptist Church in Bolivar in 1931. She graduated from Bolivar High School in 1938 and eloped with Raymond Robertson in Hartville, Mo. on July 4, 1938. Their first years of marriage were spent in or around Bolivar. Travel progressed from horse and wagon to motorized vehicles. Dorless often spoke of different homes they had lived in, one of them in 1939 being so cold that she would change her first born child under the covers at night and in the morning the diaper would be frozen to the floor.
In May of 1952 they moved to Mansfield. Dorless started working in a factory environment as a sewing machine operator when a shoe factory opened there. She later worked at the Rawlings Sporting Good plant in Ava. In 1963, when the couple moved back to Bolivar, Dorless worked at the school as a cook. She later worked at various garment factories operating a sewing machine. During this time she was active in the Amalgamated Garment Workers Union and served as a Union Representative. She was very politically minded and enjoyed listening to and discussing current events.
During the declining health of her husband, she cared for him and their younger grandchildren. After his death and the grandchildren reached school age, she became restless and went back to work. The last 10 years of her working career were spent at EDCO as a microfilm camera operator. Her second retirement came at the age of 82.
Taking trips across the US, Canada, and Mexico with different family members was a great joy for her. Her Caribbean cruise at the age of 89 gave her many more stories to tell. Her travels always included stories about getting lost, taking unintended roads, and how she enjoyed meeting and talking with people along the way. Her biggest pleasure however, came from having her family all together.
Dorless is survived by six children: Fred Robertson and wife Sharon, of Kansas City, Kansas; George Robertson and wife Joy, of Lawson; Rena Kuestersteffen and husband Bob, of Marshfield; Rama Dean “Deanie” Fields, of Ash Grove; Frank Robertson and wife Vanetta, of Willard; Carl Robertson and wife Sandra, of Bolivar. She is also survived by 13 Grandchildren: Michelle Stelmach; Jim Robertson; Eva Jean Scoma; Lucinda Jones; Robert Raney; Shannon Raper; Eric Fields; Sheldon Robertson; Raymond Robertson; Albert Robertson; Travis Robertson; Eli Robertson; Carla Williams; 3 Step-Grandchildren: Nancy Bell; David Kuestersteffen; Susie Price; 28 Great Grandchildren: Matthew Morris; Melissa Barnes; Jamie Clausen; Ross Robertson; Taylor Cantrell; Lauren Hammons; Michaela Cantrell; Kayleah Gilmore; Billy Raney; Cory Scoma; Mackenzie Hammons; Stone Fields; Ashley Raney; Madison Robertson; Riley Hammons; Michele Robertson; Cody Raney; Heath Robertson; Heston Robertson; Marshall Robertson; Maddax Fields; Uriah Robertson; Haden Robertson; Hunter Robertson; Madalyn Robertson; Colton Robertson; Jaiden Robertson; Emmitt Williams; 15 Step-Great-Grandchildren: Cory Raper; Tessa Draheim; Brandy Raper; Luke Bell; Chase Tryon; ShiAnne Jones; Kaylee Kuestersteffen; Bryce Jones; Jet Tryon; Tesa Bell; Tahlia Kuestersteffen; Keaton Kuestersteffen; David Scoma, Jr.; Matthew Scoma; Krissy McClinton; 5 Great-Great-Grandchildren: Alaina Fueston; Karli Clausen; Waylon Morris; Maysie Barnes; Lillian Barnes; and 1 Nephew: Frank David Wood.
Dorless was preceded in death by parents, Ferdie Ray and Nora Caroline (Lemon) Wood; step-mother, Dora (Denney) Wood; husband, Raymond Robertson; brother, Frank Wood; sisters, Geneva Wood and Juanita Cantrell; grandson, Michael Raney; and great-grandson, Joseph Robertson.
What’s your fondest memory of Dorless?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dorless?
Share a story where Dorless' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dorless you’ll never forget.
How did Dorless make you smile?
