Dorothy I. Howard
December 22, 1922 – August 23, 2022
A memorial service will be held in the Kiva at Friendship Village, 1400 North Drake Road on November 12th at 11:00 AM. Guests are encouraged to bring anecdotes to share at the service and are invited to a luncheon in the Kiva following the service. A private burial service at the Porter Township Chamberlin Cemetery (near Lawton) with family will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made for art scholarships to the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, c/o the funeral home.
Obituary
Dorothy Howard passed peacefully on August 23, 2022 at age 99. Born in Lawton, Michigan to Mary and Harley Mohney, she was known as “Dottie” and “Dor” to close friends and family. She was preceded in death by her brother, Marshall, older sister Gracie, and younger siblings Evelyn and Celesta. Dorothy, a graduate of Lawton High School, received a degree in home economics from Western Michigan University to pursue a career in teaching. In 1946, she married Raymond Ott following his return from service in the South Pacific and they purchased a farm outside of Lawton. Dorothy and Ray were blessed with four children. After Ray passed, Dorothy married Robert Bahlman and with her love of antiques opened Grape Country Antiques. She also took classes at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts where Dorothy developed her skills as a potter. Bob passed in 1982. Dorothy later married R. Bowen Howard and moved into Friendship Village with Bowen passing in 2015. While there, Dorothy made many dear friends and enjoyed her time with the decorating team providing floral arrangements. Dorothy will be missed as a truly kind and generous mother and grandmother. She is survived by her sons Steven Ott (Mercedes Ott and grandchildren Lindsay Wilcox and Erin Roble), Douglas Ott (Susan Ott and grandchild William Ott), and Duane Ott and four great grandchildren Drake, Arbor, Oliver and Zoe. Her daughter, Mary, preceded her in death.
Dorothy was one of the loveliest people I’ve ever known. I met her at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts in the late 80’s. She was the kindest, sweetest person and always so supportive of my pottery. Bless her heart. She was a gem. What an honor to have known her.
So So many memories with our large Mohney family…her youngest Son Duane Ott and I were one month apart and spent good times as children, teens, and young adults together. Many trips to Holland State Park camping,,,Mohney get togethers were frequent at the Farm and Grandpa Mohney’s Lake cottage on Cedar lake. I also had ” Aunt Dorothy ” for Home Ec I was told a little too often to sit down and listen Miss Streeter…lol She taught me ( out of the classroom ) how to make Homemade Doughnuts and cakes . Very talented and patient person. When Fred and I became Husband and wife she made a beautiful white eyelet dress for my Wedding and brought over many beautiful Floral arrangements. She was awlays there to help people if she could. Aunt Dor you are very missed and will forever be in my heart and memories. RIP dear lady.
To me, she was “Aunt Dorothy” in the Potluck Club, as all members were honorary aunts and uncles – except the ones who actually were! When she became the Home Ec teacher at Lawton, I had trouble not calling her Aunt. She was very creative with the class of both girls and boys – sewing, cooking – and the guys were pretty good!