Dorothy Tatom Summers

Dorothy Tatom Summers, age 93 of Concordia, Missouri, formerly of Alma, Missouri, died on Thursday, February 10, 2011, at the Lutheran Nursing Home in Concordia. Born Thursday, December 6, 1917 in Council Grove, Kansas, she was the daughter of Ray Tatom & Hazel Shaw Tatom. She married Clarence L. "Bud" Summers March 20, 1943. He preceded her in death September 2, 1977. Also preceded in death are her parents & three brothers, Spencer Tatom, Rev. Bill Tatom, & James Tatom; and one sister, Mildred Bracken. She was a homemaker & a resident of Alma most of her life, moving to Concordia in 2007. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Higginsville, Missouri, a 1936 graduate of Higginsville High School; Elk Grove Club, Pi Chi Sorority of Alma; Southwest Baptist Alumni Group, & former member of the Missouri Judicial Association. Dorothy was the first female elected Presiding Judge in Lafayette County where she served for ten years from 1977-1988. Surviving are one daughter, Janell (John) Engelhardt of Overland Park, Kansas; one brother, Jerry (El Dean) Tatom of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Sister-in-law, Mildred Tatom of Bolivar, Missouri; two grandchildren, Jennifer Engelhardt & John Summers "B.J." Engelhardt; numerous nieces & nephews. A Funeral service will be at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at First Baptist Church, Higginsville with Dr. Greg Fine officiating, Jolene Vereecke, pianist, Jennifer Engelhardt, B.J. Engelhardt, Matt Rolf & Robin Padget, vocalists. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Corder, Missouri. The family will receive friends after 7:00 P.M. Monday at Hoefer Funeral Home, Higginsville. Memorial contributions may be sent to First Baptist Church Building Fund or Lutheran Nursing Home. Casketbearers are Dwaine Edwards, B.J. Engelhardt, Donald Gieseke, Steve Tatom, Ronnie Summers, & Michael Tatom. Honorary Pallbearers are Ross Pritchard, Bob Pritchard, Bob Washburn, Hubert Alewel, Joe Rolf & Dunk Korzan. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hoeferfuneralhome.com