Dorothy Mae (Williams) Jennings of Wellsville passed away on May 31, 2023, at the age of 100 years and 9 months.  Dorothy was the beloved matriarch of her family and will be greatly missed.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m.  Friday, June 2 at the Wellsville Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Wellsville Cemetery Association.

Dorothy was born on September 1, 1922, to Hugh Williams and Alice Clement Shelton.  She was raised by her grandparents on Lehnen Street, where she would later raise her family.  She was a 1939 graduate of Wellsville High School and went on to receive her degree from Stephens College in 1941.

In 1940, she saw the love of her life standing across the Sugar Bowl and thought he was the most handsome man she had ever seen.  Charles (Squeak) Jennings, Sr. would soon ask her to be his wife.  They were married on January 4, 1942.  On July 24, 1943 while Squeak was serving in the war, she gave birth to twin sons, Charles Edgar, Jr. and Hollis Clement.  Hollis would soon pass away after his birth.  Dorothy and Squeak were later blessed with a daughter, Holly Ellen on November 27, 1960.

Dorothy spent 32 years being the bookkeeper and secretary at Wellsville-Middletown R-1, where she is remembered fondly by many former students.  She saw all kinds of changes in that time such as the consolidation of Wellsville and Middletown into one school district and also the addition of automated bells so she didn't have to physically ring the bells anymore.

After her retirement Dorothy began her journey as a craftsman.  She began weaving in the shed behind her house called "The Pig Pen."  After Squeak passed away on May 7, 1982, Dorothy and her mother Alice (Gram) moved to Hermann, MO where she started her shop called The Rag Rug Factory.  During her tenure as a shop keeper and craftsman she would go on to make tens of thousands of items that have been shipped worldwide.  She made many friends and was featured in many magazines during this time.  Her shop in Hermann will serve as some of the best memories for her grandchildren.  Dorothy was not only a talented weaver, but knitted thousands of baby hats that were donated to children's hospitals, doll clothes, and purses.  Her craft was something that her family was very proud of and you can find her talent displayed in all of our homes.

In 2000, after the passing of her mother, Dorothy moved back to Lehnen Street in Wellsville.  She continued to weave and produce handmade items up until her health issues moved her to Gamma Road Nursing Home.  Dorothy was an avid reader who you would never see without a book.  She was also a brilliant business woman who was self-taught on the stock market and computers and die hard Democrat.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Charles (Chuck) and Millie Jennings, Jr. of Wellsville and Holly Bush of Columbia.  Also remembering her fondly will be her grandchildren:  Karen and Dan Izworski of Jefferson City; Becky and Tracey Munden of Boonville; Michael and Pam Jennings of Laddonia; and Jeff Bush of Columbia.  She was also adored by her six great-grandchildren: Alicen and Grant Jennings; Shelby and Weston Munden; and Clayton and Callie Jennings.  She was preceded in death by her husband Charles, her son Hollis, son-in-law John Bush, and great-granddaughter Kylar Jennings.

There are many things that made our grandma legendary:  teaching us how to cook jambalaya, mix a vodka tonic, the importance of reading and that you are never too old to appreciate The Simpsons are just a few. One thing Grandma always looked forward to was opening day of deer season.  She recording all of the animals that we harvested for the last 30 years. Grandma would want us all to think of the words to the song Don't Worry Be Happy.  Although we are sad, we appreciate the many years we were given to love her.