- Date Of Birth: June 11, 1935
- Date Of Death: March 20, 2022
- State: Iowa
Dorothy Mae (De Cook) De Vries was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa on June 11, 1935 to John O. and Aletta (Rus) De Cook. She grew up in the Pella area, attending a one room country school through 8th grade, graduated from Pella High School. She attended Central College for a short time before starting a job at Rolscreen (Pella Corporation).
Dorothy (Dot) met Maynard (Mayn) De Vries in May of 1955 while she and a friend were jumping over parking meters.
Dot was a stay-at-home mom for 18 years, and then went to work at Central College where she started part-time in the Athletic Department. She eventually started working full-time at the Central College Physical Plant and retired in 2002 to enjoy the remaining days with Maynard.
Dot was a giving, selfless person who lived her life helping others. She led by example. There was never a job too large or too small that she would not tackle. She never met a stranger, always quick to find a common link with new people and make them feel like they were best friends.
Dot and Mayn always described their greatest blessing as their four adopted children. They chose to take in four gifts from God and raise them as their own, showing them unconditional love that was and is more powerful for all of them than that of their own blood.
Those left to cherish her memory are her family:
(The late) Mark and Laura De Vries of Clinton, Mississippi
Mary and Jim Dowie of Pella
Jenny and Jared Birath
Ellie, Nora
Matt and Lauren Dowie
Hudson, Carter
Matt and Kelly De Vries of Pella
Martha and Tim Verhey of Hendersonville, Tennessee
Lindsey and Scott Jaggers
Raelee, Ambyrlee
Aletta Verhey (Matt Booe)
Lydia Verhey (Parker Glasgow)
She is also survived by her siblings-in-law: Ruth De Cook, Kay De Cook, Harriet Van Zante, Carolyn (Harold) Vos, Anna Mae Rouw, Ray (Carol) De Vries, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Mayn, her son Mark, her great-grandson Avery Mayn, her parents, her parents-in-law Jacob (Jeanette) De Vries, her siblings and siblings-in-law: Arvin De Cook, Mark De Cook, James (Connie) De Vries, Bernie (Dody) De Vries, Albert Rouw, and Wilbur Van Zante
