Dorothy Mae Mackey's Obituary
Dorothy Mae Mackey was born December 4, 1923 in Goldthwaite, Texas and passed into the loving arms of the Lord on October 4, 2020 at the age of 96. Dorothy was the only child of Sam and Tennie Holland. Tennie was the eldest of ten children so Dorothy was blessed with many aunts, uncles, and cousins that made a very large, fun, and supportive family.
Tahoka, Texas became their new home when Dorothy was eight years old. When she was twelve years old, she came home one afternoon and told her Mother that a new boy named Harvey Johnson got on the school bus that morning and she was going to marry him. In 1941, when Dorothy was seventeen and Harvey was twenty-two, they were married. In 1942, Harvey enlisted in the Army and served his country during World War II as a member of the support crew for the Flying Tigers Group under the command of General Claire Chennault in China. Dorothy moved to Bryan, Texas and became the highest grossing sales person in an exclusive ladies dress store. Harvey was discharged from the Army in 1946. As a member of the Flying Tigers Group, Harvey’s Army uniform along with pictures of Harvey and Dorothy are on display in Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in Monroe, LA. Harvey and Dorothy had two children, Brenda Kaye and Kendall Lee. The Harvey Johnson Family attended the First Baptist Church in Odessa, Texas. In 1958, Harvey passed away with colon cancer. Dorothy’s parents helped the young family through the loss.
There was another family who attended the First Baptist Church that had suffered a tremendous loss with the death of the wife of John Mackey and the Mother of Bonnie Kathryn, Johnny Charlton, Jr., and James Lee. Friends at church introduced John and Dorothy. With the encouragement of many friends, Dorothy and John were married in 1959. The new family moved from Odessa to Texarkana and then to Richardson for John to accept promotions with Sears Roebuck and Co. Dorothy was a master organizer devoted to blending the five children into one family. Dorothy and John made the house a home by providing love and support for each other and for the children. They raised the children in the church and taught them to follow God. Dorothy enjoyed so many devoted friends as they sewed together, played bridge together, and decorated together. Dorothy also served on several church committees.
When John retired from Sears, they opened a gift wrap business at First Monday Trades Days in Canton, Texas that they operated for twenty-eight years. They also took the business “on the road” where they traveled the United States meeting many new friends.
Dorothy was by John’s side continuously as he fought cancer and then passed away in 2007.
They were a couple devoted to their faith and to their family. They enjoyed so many friends during their marriage! Together they all shared a very active social life including playing bridge, playing a favorite card game called Hand and Foot, sharing meals, and taking trips.
Dorothy is survived by her children Bonnie Petrey, Brenda Kaye Jessup and husband Manuel Sierra, Johnny Mackey, Jimmy Mackey and wife Amy, and Kendall Johnson; six grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Dorothy and her family are blessed with many loving relatives and devoted friends.
What’s your fondest memory of Dorothy?
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Share a story where Dorothy's kindness touched your heart.
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