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Doris Dorethy Obituary
Doris was born April 12, 1930, in Fort Madison,the daughter of William John and Clara (Peterschmidt) South. She graduated from Montrose High School and went on to receive her Bachelor of Education degree from Iowa Wesleyan University. On May 25, 1954, she was united in marriage to John Charles Dorethy, Jr. in Keokuk. He preceded her in death in 2016. Doris began her teaching career at a one-room schoolhouse in Charleston, Iowa, then went to Montrose High School where she also coached girls' basketball. After the consolidation, she taught at Central Lee, Carthage and Hamilton before finishing her teaching career at Wells-Carey School in Keokuk, from which she retired in 1985. Doris played basketball for Iowa Wesleyan and enjoyed playing basketball and softball well into adulthood. She also enjoyed playing bridge and euchre and the penny slot machines. She especially enjoyed watching her grandchildren's sports.
Doris is survived by two sons, Bill (Stephanie) Dorethy of Centralia, Missouri and Jeff (Michelle) Dorethy of Hamilton; grandchildren, Diana Savoia, Jessica Williams, Nicholas Dorethy, Lauren (Ethan) Lillard, Logan Dorethy and Lucas Dorethy; great-grandchildren, Ethan Williams, Evan Wootton, Olivia Williams, Ella Justice, Enzo Lillard, and Dominik Lillard; and a great-great-grandchild, Romen Williams; and many nieces and nephews, including a special niece and nephew, Donna Luttners of Kewanee, Illinois and Mike (Pam) South of Rocklin, California.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; and one brother, Jack South.
Visitation will be held from 4–7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, at Printy Funeral Home in Hamilton. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at the Keokuk National Cemetery in Keokuk. Memorials may be directed to the Deer Run Golf Course in Hamilton. Printy Funeral Home of Hamilton is in charge of arrangements.
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Memories and Condolences
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Sponsored by Printy Funeral Home - Hamilton.
3 Entries
Charles H Clatt
December 23, 2025
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. Her and your dad were quite the couple and good friends may they rest in peace together now.
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Marcy Cockrell (Stuart)
December 21, 2025
So saddened to hear this...Mrs Dorethy was my 5th grade teacher at Wells Carey school and I just loved her... after going to middle school, I would stop by after school and help her either grade papers or clean the chalkboard... she was, without a doubt, one of my favorite teachers and one that I've never forgotten... my condolences to her family
Lisa Peterson
December 18, 2025
One of my very favorite teachers. RIP.
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