Dottie James

Dottie Lou (Crisp) James was born May 6, 1938, to Nora (Zirschky) Crisp and George Crisp in Manes, Missouri, and passed away January 29, 2026, at Century Pines in Ozark, Missouri. She was the first daughter in a family of thirteen. She grew up in Manes and lived in Mountain Grove for 65 years.

Except for her salvation through Christ, her greatest joy was her marriage to Ervin James. They married on June 12, 1960, and together raised two children, Debbie and Larry. Dottie was actively involved at Southside Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and worked in the kitchen as well as cleaning the church.

Dottie worked for 33 years at Brown Shoe Company. After Ervin’s death in 2007, she volunteered many hours at the Mountain Grove crisis center where she was always eager to help everyone that came in. She had a special place in her heart for children and loved teaching at church and watching her nieces and nephews grow into adults. She loved gardening and you could find her in her yard on most days. She had a green thumb and loved her flowers. Rest and relaxation were not in her vocabulary. Her favorite day was a serving of ice cream (maybe two), someone to visit with, and a garage sale. Although she enjoyed her trips to Texas and California to visit her family, she was always glad when she made it home again.

Dottie was preceded in death by both parents; siblings, Dale, Buddy, Georgie Jr., Gene, Johnny Dean, and Alice Strong Altis; and grandchildren, Derrick James and Victoria Donovan.

Dottie is survived by one daughter, Deborah Donovan of Mountain Grove; one son, Larry James (Janet) of Mountain Grove; grandchildren, Anthony Brown (Jennifer) of Murphy, Texas, Shawn James of Mountain Grove, Shane James (Jennifer) of Mountain Grove, and Lindi James of Greely, Colorado; fourteen great-grandchildren, Matthew, Michael Brown, Skylar, Luke, Jacob, Nathan, Bailee, Ashton, Michael James, Dakota, Alexis, Kendra, Kane, and Ayla; six great-great grandchildren; sisters Phyllis French of Mountain Grove, Audra Jackson of Mountain Grove, Judy Turner of Manes, and Susie McKee of Cabool; sister-in-law, Carol Crisp of Mountain Grove; brothers, Eldon Crisp (Deena) of Manes and Paul Crisp of Manes; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.