Dorothy Withiam, a long time Cushing resident, passed into eternity on July 5th, 2010 at the age of 91.
Dorothy was born on December 27, 1918 in McPherson, Kansas the second child of Samuel Mathias and Ester Eklund Embers. Dorothy grew up on the family farm and graduated from McPherson High School in 1936.
Dorothy married the love of her life Kenneth Forrest Withiam in 1936 in Kansas and moved to Cushing in 1942 where Kenneth was employed by Shell Oil Company. Dorothy devoted her life to being a good wife to Kenny and raising their two children, a son, Sam Withiam of Cushing, OK and a daughter, Phyllis Gondring of St. Joseph, MO. When it was time to go on a pipeline job she packed up the kids and made homes on the road. When they established their own business, Cushing Welding & Construction Company, she became office manager until Kenny’s death in 1977. She focused her whole life on her family. She was always available for a laugh, a shoulder to cry on, and good meal or word of advice. She made every trial and triumph with her grandkids and her great-grandkids.
She was an ace at cross-word puzzles, liked to debate current events, loved to work with numbers, played a mean ragtime piano, and made a wicked apple dumpling. She will be missed by many and remembered with love.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Kenneth Withiam, her mother, father and two brothers, Virgil and Duane Embers, both of McPherson, KS.
She leaves behind two children: a son, Sam Withiam and his wife Sharrie of Cushing, OK and a daughter Phyllis Gondring and her husband Dr. Bill Gondring of St. Joseph, MO. Five Grandchildren: Doug Withiam and his wife Becky of Cushing, OK; LuAnn Bradshaw and her husband Max of Cushing, OK; Stacy Beshears and her husband Don of St. Joseph, MO; Christy Matchell and her husband Kyle of Kansas City, MO and Jody Gondring of Kansas City, MO. Eight Great-Grandchildren and three Great-Great-Grandchildren: Bryan Withiam, his wife Tawny and their daughter Romy of Yale, OK; Kimberly Withiam-Carlson and her husband David of Norman, OK; Samantha Ceron, her husband David and their sons Jack Samuel and Camden of Buckeye, AZ; Kara Reherman of Phoenix, AZ; Zack and Mack Hicks of St. Joseph, MO; and William and
Jackson Matchell of Kansas City, KS. A brother, Robert G. Embers of Lawrence, KS and numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.
The funeral will be held at 11:00am on Friday, July 9th at the Methodist Church in Cushing, OK, Pastor Bill Allton, Jr. presiding.
Visitation will be Thursday evening from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Davis Funeral Home.
You may share your condolences with the Withiam family at www.davisfh.net.
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home.
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