Dorothy Jeane Musselwhite

Dorothy Jeane Musselwhite was born September 24, 1935 and died July 31, 2025. She is survived by her son, James Byron Closser; daughter-in-law, Myrna Marie Litchfield Closser and grandson, James Byron Closser, II; sister, Virginia Anne Turner Huff (Tom); sister-in-law, Darlene Turner; step sisters, Barbara Allen and Carolyn Shilling (Jim); step brother, Yates Musselwhite (Janice); step children, Teresa (Terri) Musselwhite Carmichael; Gary Musselwhite (Debbi) and Leslie Musselwhite; and step grandchildren, Holly Musselwhite Wolff (Luke), Ryan Musselwhite, Tressa (Ben), and Traci Carmichael Sherbondy (Derek). Dorothy was born at home in the small North central Florida area of Gator, Florida. She was the first-born to parents Charles Wesley Turner, Sr. and Bessie Mildred Alligood Turner of Dunnellon, Florida. Two more siblings joined the family when Virginia Anne Turner Huff was born in 1940, followed by the birth of Charles Wesley Turner, Jr. in 1942. The family moved to Palmetto/Fort Myers, Florida where her dad's family had a gladiola farm named the G&V Bulb Company. They worked the flower farm and harvested the cuttings which they graded, packed, and shipped on rail cars for out-of-state buyers. Dorothy enjoyed playing and working around the farm picking flowers, cotton, watermelons, or whatever her dad would grow. She too would reminisce of sitting on the back porch of the Fort Myers Thomas Edison home on McGregor Boulevard drinking an iced-tea provided to her by Edison's caretaker. And her mischievous side came out when she put a large lily grasshopper in her teacher's desk drawer at the Ft. Myers Church school. When Dorothy was about 10-years old the family moved to Orlando, Florida where her dad began working in the grounds department at Florida Sanitarium and Hospital. Her mom went to the hospital's LPN school and soon began working there too. Dorothy attended Orlando Junior Academy then Forest Lake Academy. While at a church potluck at Lake Ivanhoe in Orlando, the family was enjoying a lazy Sabbath afternoon around the lake when Dorothy's little brother Chuck, pushed an out-of-town guest off the dock and into the lake. The out-of-towner's name was Frank Closser. That's how she met her soon-to-be husband. Dorothy dropped out of high school (although she did finish her GED 30 years later) and married Franklin D. Closser on August 31, 1954. Frank was from Alexandria, Indiana where the newly married couple moved and lived. Soon after, the United States Army called-up Frank as a medic and the newlyweds moved to Livorno, Italy where they lived in an apartment on the Mediterranean Sea adjacent to United States Army Base – Camp Darby. It was there in the army base hospital that their only child James Byron Closser was born on August 19, 1957. Three months later they moved back to Indiana where they lived for six years. They moved to Orlando, Florida where Dorothy began work at Florida Hospital in medical records as a transcriptionist. She worked most of her career in the medical field – both in the hospital and physician office settings. After 25 years of marriage Frank and Dorothy divorced and she remained single for several years. She worked at the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in the Adventist Book Center, then as the director of the conference service center. Dorothy so enjoyed the company of good friends and the conference was a place where she gained several new ones. She and her good friend Shirley Urhan enjoyed travels to Alaska, Nova Scotia, and Canada. They just happened to be in the air on an American Airlines flight on 9/11 when the twin towers were struck. That's a whole story in itself. Music was a significant part of her life as she played piano and organ for churches in Indiana and Orlando. She too enjoyed acting as chaperone for music trips and tours in which Jim and Myrna were involved. These trips were organized by dear friends Pat Silver and her husband Bob at Forest Lake Academy. Dorothy attended the Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church. It was here where she served as a greeter along with Gordon Musselwhite – where they were reacquainted and began dating. They were married September 23, 1988 and began their lives together. Gordon was a tile/marble contractor and Dorothy continued working at the conference office. She so loved her new extended family and the adventures they provided. Gordon was a welcomed and loved addition to the family. She so appreciated the love and thoughtfulness of step-children Terri, Gary, and Les – and their children as an important part of her life. Unfortunately, Gordon suffered a stroke and passed away. So, in 1996 Dorothy moved to Nashville to be near her family including Jim, Myrna and Jimmy – where she lived on the same street. She entered the workforce again and worked for Dr. Marcus Min for a few years. Some physical limitations brought an end to her work career, but she did continue service as a volunteer at the Madison Medical Clinic established by Dr. Andrew Boskind. She was adventurous and enjoyed the outdoors, rides in the boat, cruise ship water slides, roller coasters, jet skis, amusement parks, and even tubing and zip-lining at 80 years of age! Within just a few years, the ravages of dementia began its slow insidious progression. In 2020 after a fall at her home and discharge from the hospital she agreed to live with Jim and Myrna. The family wishes to express its love and deep appreciation to the many caregivers and friends that have assisted her through these last few years, months, weeks, and days. Some include: Neighbor Jane West, longtime caregiver and friend Marsha Westerbeck, dear friend Brenda Pace, church family, and the many excellent staff of Alive Hospice – especially Kari Lampat, Lisa Baulkon, and Kristen Jelks. She loved this bible verse found in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10: "However it is written: 'What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived' are the things God has prepared for those who love him – these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit." Dorothy loved the Lord and wanted nothing more than to have each of you, every family member, and friend with her in heaven. Live streaming of the service is available at this link: https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/114827/hash:FFCF3B15C86454FC Arrangements entrusted to Spring Hill Funeral Home. 5110 Gallatin Pike, Nashville, TN 37216. 615-865-1101. https://www.springhillfh.com