Dorothy M. Bemis

1923 - 2023

Dorothy M. Bemis

April 2, 1923-February 16, 2023

Dorothy M. Bemis died on February 16, 2023. The family will hold a small private service. Burial will be in the Muscatine Memorial Cemetery in Muscatine, Iowa.

Dorothy was the daughter of Fred and Erna (Vandersee) Schaller. She was born April 2, 1923, in rural Fayette County, Iowa.

On June 10, 1944, she married J. Edward Bemis at Patuxent River, Maryland. Mr. Bemis preceded her in death on April 2, 1970.

Dorothy graduated from Randalia High School, attended Upper Iowa University and took extension courses from UIU and UNI. She taught in the Alpha and Jesup Community Schools. She served as Assistant Director at the Musser Public Library, Muscatine, IA, for thirteen plus years. Later she was a District Rental Manager for Heartland Management Co., Des Moines, Iowa, serving their low-income housing properties in eastern Iowa.

She was a long time member of the Presbyterian Church of which she was active in the Christian Education department. Sher served as Deacon and Elder in the church.

She was an avid reader. Her other interest included writing poetry, scrapbooking, and knitting Afghans which she shared with family and friends.

Dorothy is survived by a daughter, Sherry Gee of Longview, WA, a son, Gary (Deb) Bemis of Fairfield, IA, six grandchildren – Eric Day of Vancouver, WA, Angela Day of Portland, OR, Wes Day of Longview, WA, Chad Bemis of Packwood, IA, Hayley Bemis of Fairfield, IA, and Tayler Barnett of Oskaloosa, IA. She had nine great grandchildren – Eric Day II, Gracie Day Simon, Emily, Madison, and Cade Bemis, and Blair, Blythe, Bentley and Blessing Barnett. She has a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Erna Schaller, brothers, Ed Schaller and Dave Schaller, sisters, Marilyn Arbaugh and Arlene McComb and son-in-law, Jerry Gee.