Dorothy Emmett Perry, 89

Dorothy Emmett Perry, 89, passed away March 30, 2010, at her home in Whitefish. Dorothy was born Dec. 18, 1920, in the small town of Hobson, the 12th child of Harvey and Lula Belle Rogers. She grew up in Windham, attending grades one through 12. Her mother owned a hotel there and, as a child and teenager, she helped with the many responsibilities entailed in mother s business. In high school, she was active in sports, band, drama club and was the best dancer at the proms. The winner of many blue ribbons at county spelling bees, Dorothy remained a sharp speller at 89 years old. Upon high school graduation, she took a large leap and moved to the big city of Great Falls. Dorothy attended the Great Falls Beauty College to become a beautician. She met her future husband, Raymond Emmett, through a foursome date night. They were married June 3, 1939, and set up married life in a small apartment in Great Falls. She was a devoted wife and mother who, with Ray, raised two children, Carole and Jeffrey. As the children started attending school, Dorothy held a variety of secretarial jobs, working in insurance and real estate in Great Falls and frequently becoming the executive secretary to the owners. In 1961, Dorothy and Ray started building their cabin in the heart of the Belt Mountains near Great Falls. For 12 years their lives revolved around the experiences and memories with their extended family at the cabin. After living and working in Great Falls for 42 years, they moved to the Flathead Valley, where they spent their summers, and their winters in Quartzsite, Ariz. Following Ray s death in 1992, Dorothy returned to the valley permanently. Two years later, she married an old-time friend, Woodrow Perry. Together they traveled, explored and settled in St. George, Utah, where they started a new life attending college courses and making new friends. Once again, Dorothy was widowed by Woody s passing in 2007. She moved to Whitefish to live with her daughter and son-in-law. Dorothy loved to shop, not necessarily to buy, but to get new ideas and see new products. She loved to travel and was excited to go on a trip the day she passed away. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was always wanting to gain more knowledge and testimony of her beliefs. Preceded in death also by her parents and siblings, she is survived by her daughter, Carole Denning, and husband, Kay, of Whitefish; her son, Jeffrey Emmett, of Borego Springs, Calif.; stepdaughter, Pamela Olsen, and husband, Steve, of Salt Lake City, and family, Leah and Amy; grandchildren, Scott Hatfield of Columbia Falls and family, Melissa, Emily and Carrie; Shayne Hatfield and wife, Kristi, of Columbia Falls, and family, Skye, Joyce and Kate; Suzanne Haverkorn and husband, Tony, of Belgrade and family, Savanah and Kelcie; Shelly Chandler and husband, Kyle, of Cedar City, Utah, and family, Lya, Mac and Andrea; Nathan and Tina Emmett of California; Ashley and Carter Emmett of California; stepgrandchildren, Curtis, Paul, Joy, Alice, Lori, Margaret, Karoline and David; and many great- and great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 10, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Whitefish, with Bishop Joel Stevenson presiding; a luncheon will immediately follow at the church. Interment services will follow at 2 p.m. at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to services. Arrangements are under the care of Austin Funeral Home.