Dorothy Mae Gresham Starcher

Dorothy Mae Gresham Starcher was born December 20, 1923, on the family farm west of Mountain Park, Oklahoma. Dorothy passed from this life November 22, 2022, in Duncan after a short illness.

Dorothy was the first child born to Joseph Marvin Gresham and Zola Mae Sockwell Gresham. Five other children were born to that union including Sybil, Betty, Glenn, Geraldine (Gerry), and Elton.

She graduated from Mountain Park and played the saxophone in the school band. She and her three sisters played hymns around the family piano with Dorothy playing saxophone, Sybil on the horn, Betty on the clarinet and Gerry on the piano.

Dorothy and her sister Sybil attended business school for a short time in Oklahoma City. She returned to Snyder to work in the local bank.

She met Glen Burton Starcher through church activities, and they married on December 23, 1943, shortly before he shipped out for the war in the Pacific.

She continued working for First National Bank during the remainder of the war, keeping her eyes and ears open for a farm they could buy upon his return. They were reunited and a farm in Kiowa County was purchased in December 1946. A son, Glen Burton Starcher, Jr., was born the following December 1947.

In the early 1950's, Dorothy started a career as a bookkeeper with the Snyder Farmers Co-op that lasted for more than 30 years. She retired and purchased the Snyder Variety which she ran for nearly 10 years. She then started working occasionally for tellers who were on vacation at the bank where she started her career. She continued to work well into her late 70's. She knew and worked with hundreds of farming families over the years and loved those associations.

While working at the Co-op, her daughter, Janell Marie, was born October 14, 1958. Cotton harvest was in full swing where she was working the scales, taking off at noon that day for a doctor's appointment. She came home three days later with her baby daughter.

Dorothy loved music and encouraged her children to learn piano. It went well with her daughter, but her son chose other roads. Later, Janell chose other endeavors, with her love of basketball. Dorothy and Glen B were seen at basketball games, following the Cyclones. They continued to watch other teams when Janell coached.

Dorothy played piano for the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Snyder from the mid 1950's until the church closed in the 1970s. She and Glen B then attended the First Baptist Church of Snyder, where she enjoyed playing both piano and organ for services and special events. She played for many funerals during her time at the church. She continued to play for the assisted living facility where they lived in Duncan.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Joseph Marvin and Zola Mae, her husband of 70 years, Glen B, sister Sybil, and brothers, Glenn and Elton. Surviving sisters include Betty Moore of Roosevelt and Geraldine Woodward of Amarillo, Texas.

Family survivors include son, Glen Burton Starcher, Jr, (Louise) of Amarillo, Texas; grandchildren: Lori Starcher Brown (Donnie) of Plainview, Texas and Holli Starcher Mitchell (Brian) of Lubbock, Texas; great grandchildren: Joshua Brown (Abi), Hannah Brown Pipes (Jesse), Noelle and Lauren Mitchell; Daughter, Janell Rochell (Dale) of Duncan; Grandchildren: Amee Matthews (John), Aaron Harthun, Evan Sellers (Mandie) and Morgan (Ky'Ale)Lloyd; Great grandchildren: Joseph and Jonathan Matthews, Mariza and Mikayla Harthun, Kinley and Devan Sellers, and Kambree, Addie, and Melody Lloyd.

Dorothy moved to Elk Crossing in Duncan in 2020, where she received loving care from the staff and administrators. Choice Hospice cared for her as well in her final days. The family expresses deep gratitude for the love and dignity provided to Dorothy by the staff of each facility.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Snyder Fairlawn Cemetery Beautification Fund or to First Baptist Church Music Ministry, Snyder.