Dorothy Lee Pope

San Antonio - Dorothy Lee Pope, daughter of Jack Lee and Dorothy Pope of McAllen, Texas, passed away November 19, 2021, in San Antonio. She was 79.

"Miss Pope," as she was known to her decades of third grade students, was recognized as an outstanding teacher devoted to her Milam Elementary students in McAllen. Graduating summa cum laude from Pan American University, in 1970 she was named in Outstanding Young Women of America, and in 1971 she published Rainbow Era on the Rio Grande, based on her research and interviews of Valley pioneers and their descendants. She continued to serve in leadership roles in several teacher organizations before and after retirement.

In addition to her antique collections, her passions were Texas history and genealogy, and she enjoyed actively participating in the RGV Scottish Society as a proud member of Clan Chisholm.

Miss Pope's horizons broadened after her teaching career, with her travels extending from Alaska to Europe to New Zealand. Those who knew her would not be surprised to know that she carefully documented all her destinations.

When health problems changed her plans, she moved from McAllen to San Antonio. From there she was able to enjoy family members and the ranchland she loved, which had belonged to her family for four generations.

While Miss Pope has no descendants, her memory will be cherished by extended relatives, treasured friends, and students who continue to benefit from her compassionate instruction. In addition, to honor her father's career in Law Enforcement, she established scholarships and a museum room at Sam Houston State University

Department of Criminal Justice.

Interment will be in McAllen, Texas, on November 27, 2021 at 3PM at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery.