Dorthy Helene Garner

Dorthy Helene Garner, 97, of Cerritos, California passed away Monday July 31, 2023 in Huntington Beach, California. She was born in Round Grove, Missouri on January 19, 1926, to Irma Velva (Crouch) Critser and Mount Vernon Highway Critser.Dorthy grew up in Missouri and Colorado and attended schools in both states. She graduated from Keenesburg Colorado High School in May 1943. She was an excellent typist and attended Barnes Business College in Denver, but left after 1 month. She returned to Missouri in 1944. But left Missouri on August 14, 1945 - the day Japan unconditionally surrendered during World War II. She travelled with her brother Glen Elwyn Critser who had just been discharged from the Marines.Dorthy met and married Thomas Nelson Garner on September 29, 1946 in California. They loved to bowl and played in several bowling leagues. They also enjoyed playing cards with friends. They loved baseball and took the family to watch the Dodgers, which got their sons, Kerry and Lonnie, involved in baseball. They lived in Artesia for 27 years when Thomas passed away, of cancer, in 1977. Dorthy moved to Cerritos, California after Nelson's passing and lived there until her death.Dorthy was an excellent cook and house keeper. She loved to sew and made many beautiful garments. In the 50's she worked for Catalina and Cole of California making bathing suits. Dorthy was an Angels season ticket holder for several years and went with Lonnie to 4 of the playoff and world series games in 2002. She loved doing crossword puzzles, playing cards with her group of friends she met when they worked at Bullocks. She loved her family and her kitties Max and Misty.Dorthy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Thomas Nelson Garner, her son Kerry Thomas Garner, and also by her brothers Glen Elwyn Critser and Herbert Lenvil Critser. Dorthy is survived by her sister Bettye Louise Cantwell, of Orange, California, her son Lonnie Dennis Garner, of Long Beach, California, her daughter, Sherry Diane (Bolcar) Palmer of Cypress, California. Her grandchildren Matthew Aaron and Thomas John Bolcar, of Santa Ana, California, Brian Scott Bolcar of Charlotte, North Carolina. Kerry Garner's girls; Christy Guerra of Odessa, Missouri and Amy Madaris of Ridgeway, Colorado. She is survived by 3 great grandchildren: Archer Thorn Bolcar, Michael Scott and Allie Fetterolf. She is survived by 4 great, great grandchildren: Elliot and Josephine Scott, Joey and Murphie Fetterolf.Dorthy will be laid to rest at Rose Hills Memorial Park on August 16, 2023. The funeral service will be at 9 am in the Memorial Chapel.