Dorothy Katherine (Marx) Britton, 89
Dorothy Britton, 89, of Coeur d'Alene, passed away Oct. 27, 2010, at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene after a long battle with cancer, amazing everyone with her strong stamina and ability to never give up. She was born March 26, 1921, in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., to Oscar and Pearl (Sawyer) Marx.
They moved to Kenosha, Wis., when Dorothy was very young. She attended school there and met Jim Britton, her one true love. Dorothy attended a trade school and after she and Jim married; doing couples work as a maid and butler, until Jim went into the service. They began raising their large, happy big family of seven children. Shirleyann, a twin, died at 20 months of pneumonia in 1945. Jim got sick in 1957 and passed away January 1958. Dorothy was devastated, alone with six kids, but she had only one thought "I have to raise our kids to the best of my ability." A totally independent person she asked little of anyone. Dorothy dug her heels in; never being heard to say "Why Me." She faced many challenges including losing her oldest son Jim in a car accident in February 1960.
She made a huge decision after that and decided to move herself and the five remaining kids to Denver, Colo., to start a new life. In August 1960 she packed up everything she owned and set out for Denver. She took the five kids on the Denver Zepher train, a great experience for all. She lived in Denver for a little over 40 years. Dorothy worked for the Denver Public School System as a cook. She loved her work as it kept her around all kinds of kids, many who called her gramma. After Dorothy retired she decided she had one more change to make in her life and moved to Coeur d'Alene where she was close to one of her sons and his family.
Dorothy loved music of all types including playing the bugle in the Drum and Bugle Corp. She was an avid bowler, earning National Honors for bowling a 623 series in a Ladies National Tournament winning doubles with her partner. Dorothy was also a past president of the ladies auxiliary of the VFW in Kenosha. She was a terrific card player always looking for a good game of canasta, gin or pinochle. She loved spending time with her children and their families, especially her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jim; daughter Shirleyann; son Jim; two granddaughters: Quelyn and Loryn and four great-grandchildren: Jaycub, Traceyann, Margaret and Aidan.
Dorothy is survived by her five children and their families: Dorothyann Britton Moore of Arvada, Colo.; Linda Britton Parent of Thornton, Colo.; Richard and his wife Robin Britton of Post Falls; Ronold Britton of Long Beach, Calif., and Lori Britton of Arvada; her brother, Eugene and Barbara Marx of Littleton, Colo.; 10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews. She was loved by all and will be sorely missed. Dorothy knew no stranger and always had a SMILE for EVERYONE!
Charitable contributions may be sent to Hospice of North Idaho or The American Cancer Society.
Memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel. Please visit Dorothy's online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.