Dorothy Garner Cordero

Dorothy Garner Cordero, 80, of Waco, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at OakCrest Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike Toby officiating. Burial will follow in Rosemond Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday prior to the service. She was born June 15, 1926, in Kosse, to Lillie Mae (Worthey) and Willie Dale Garner Garner. She graduated from San Antonio Vocational and Technical High School. She met Harry Cordero Jr. in San Antonio, married in Boerne, and moved to Waco on Jan. 1, 1950, during the biggest ice storm of the century. She immediately went to work for Mrs. Baird's Bread as a bookkeeper. Shortly thereafter, she was hired and trained by Larry Robinson Studios. She was manager of the Waco studio for many years until the demise of the popular chain following the death of it's namesake founder. Her beloved husband, Harry E. Cordero Jr. predeceased her on Feb. 11, 2002. Dorothy was an entrepreneur. She owned and managed rental property and Bedder Interiors in Waco, Temple and Killeen. She also found time to be active in her church, First Baptist Church of Woodway, her beloved Sunday school class, New Horizons, and was a Sunday School teacher for intermediate girls. She was both Midway ISD, and McLennan County Council PTA President. She supported her children, Suzanne, Mimi and Hartley, as leader of Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, chauffeur to piano and voice lessons, teaching us about trees, flowers, small animals and birds, and reading "The Little Red Hen" too many times to be counted. She loved the water and would put her feet in at every opportunity - no matter the weather. She loved travel with her family and crabbing on the coast. She was always looking for "the perfect rock" - though she found it early when she came to know Jesus as her Savior in 1952. She was baptized at North Waco Baptist Church. She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend and Sunday School Teacher. She played all of these roles in a manner that makes her loved by all who knew her. Her children want to thank her for a "memory book" of faith, fun, family, adventure and learning. Thanks, Mom. She is survived by her daughters, Suzanne "Sam" Manske of Waco, and Mimi Dale Larkin and husband, Nelson Larkin of Mansfield; son, Harry Hartley Cordero (called "HH" by his mother) and wife, Lisa of Burleson; granddaughters, Meredith Suzanne Manske Wideman and husband, Mitchell Nash Wideman, Stephanie Johns and Karissa Rose Cordero; and grandsons, Nelson Larkin and wife, Stacy, Neal Larkin and wife, Morgan, and Harrison Hartley Cordero; brother, Lewis W. Garner and his wife, Nona of San Antonio; and sister, Delma Garner Jacks and husband, the Rev. Claude W. Jacks, Jr. of Beeville; and numerous nieces and nephews. The online guestbook is available at www.oakcrestwaco.com June 15, 1926 - January 3, 2007 Sign the Guest Book at www.wacotrib.com