Elizabeth “Betty” Joy (Largent) Dorroh

On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, Elizabeth Joy Dorroh, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away at the age of 93.

Betty was born on October 23, 1930 in Caruthersville, Missouri to wonderful parents Harriet Culp Largent and Charles Largent. Betty attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduated from Caruthersville High School. She attended Southeast Missouri State University. On June 1, 1954 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Caruthersville, Betty was united in marriage to Lee Miller Dorroh. They celebrated nearly 68 years of a beautiful marriage. To this union was born five children:  Charles William, James Lee, Cynthia Marie, Lawrence Gerard, and Richard Joseph.

While her husband, Lee, was serving in the Air Force, they were stationed at O’Hare Field in Chicago, Illinois and in Denver, Colorado. Betty and Lee returned to Caruthersville to grow and raise their family and to join Lee’s family in the hardware and farming business, Charles Dorroh and Sons. Betty was known for her immense love of her family, her church, and her community and its people.

As a young lady, Betty worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell. She was a loving mother and hardworking homemaker as her children grew and she eventually joined the family business as bookkeeper at Dorroh Seed and Supply. Betty was heavily involved in Sacred Heart Catholic Church throughout her life. Over the years, she volunteered as Church Secretary, was the Director of Religious Education, taught Sunday school, assisted in many Youth Group activities, was a member of the Catholic Ladies Society, and was a devout member of the weekly rosary group. Betty also served as a teacher in the program of Each One, Teach One. As a member of the Pemiscot County Historical Society, Betty would travel to many people’s homes in the county, where she would conduct interviews and compose a biography for the recipient of the Pioneer Heritage Award. She also volunteered for the Pemiscot County Youth Home and was a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader.

Betty enjoyed socializing and entertaining, particularly with her family and The Wednesday Bridge Club, which met for more than 60 years.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Hattie and Charles Largent, her husband Lee Miller Dorroh, her sister Mary Carole Largent, her daughter-in-law Tena McCoy Dorroh, and one grandchild Steven Lux Dorroh.

Betty is survived by her children Charles Dorroh and his wife Glenda of Colorado Springs, James Dorroh and his wife Marilyn, Cynthia Hodge and her husband Jim, Lawrence Dorroh, Richard Dorroh and his wife Debbie all of Caruthersville. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Scott Dorroh, Jimmy Dorroh, Ginny Dorroh Toney, Matthew Dorroh, Lauren Hodge Jain, Gray Hodge, Justin Dorroh, Chase Hodge, Will Dorroh, Christopher Dorroh, Caroline Dorroh, and Svetlana Dorroh. She is survived by great-grandchildren; Avery, Lleyton, Londyn, Miller, Marcy, Garner, Eliza, Charlotte, Porter, Margaret, Isabelle, and Roger Dorroh, Jaxon, Olivia, and Sadie Toney, McKenna and Mary Beth Hodge, and Ashley Jain.  Betty is also survived by her much loved nieces and nephew; Diane Dorroh Smith, Mary Lynn Dorroh Bellott, Linda Dorroh Buller, Paul Carmean, and Cathy Carmean Fonda, And Many Friends.

Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Caruthersville, Missouri. Interment to follow in Little Prairie Cemetery. 

Visitation will be held in the H.S. Smith Funeral chapel at 9:00 am prior to the mass with Recitation of the Rosary beginning at 10:00 am.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials please be given to Sacred Heart Church or St. Jude Children's Hospital.

H.S. Smith Funeral Home in charge of services.

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