Dorothy J. Whitcomb

Dorothy J. Whitcomb, an adoring resident of Raintree Lake in Lee’s Summit Missouri, bravely took the hand of Jesus on February 6, 2022 surrounded by family in the home she loved.

Dorothy’s life began in Centralia, Missouri. She was blessed to live right next to door to her Grandmother’s house & across the street from her Uncle Barnie and Aunt Dotty. Humble beginnings that were rich in love and lots of family. She loved to recall all her precious memories of taffy pulls in her grandmother’s house & using an outhouse. Her children Mike & Gina loved going back to visit with their Mother as she was always so happy to be with her Wainscott family.

Her family eventually moved to Kansas City and it was here that her life would take up forever roots. In her twenties, she met, fell in love and married Edward R. Whitcomb. Their love & deep devoted commitment to one another & a shared faith in God is the paint on the canvas of Dorothy’s life.

Dorothy was the eldest in her family with two sister’s that have forever shared a connection & unbreakable bond. They have loved each other like friends but sometimes quarreled & bickered as only sister’s understand. They loved spending time together shopping & going out to lunch. It was not uncommon for these sisters to unknowingly dress in exactly the same outfit when venturing out. Something that embarrassed Dorothy’s daughter but as the years piled on she came to love. Whenever one had a Birthday the other two sisters somehow always managed to buy exact same Birthday card.

She proudly managed being a fun & spontaneous Mother to two, while becoming a registered nurse. She absolutely loved working as an RN. She was a Girl Scout School Administrator. President of the PTA, Room Mother, served on the board of Raytown Chapter of American Cancer Society & on the board of Raytown Emergency Assistance, Chairman and area Representative for Christians Women’s Club, Chairman of REAP’s Christmas Store. Chair mother of her daughter’s store, Décor & Co. Warehouse. However, her absolute greatest joy was starting the senior ministry program at Abundant Life Baptist Church. She was the director for 10 years. They named the program, “Abundant Joy,” and it will forever be known as “A-Joy.” The friendships and love touched her profoundly until her last days on earth.

Dorothy loved shopping and approached it like an Olympian sport. She loved clothing, jewelry and home décor. From an early age she introduced her daughter to the sport and together they have enjoyed countless estate sales, bargain hunting & shopping excursions. By far, New York was their favorite shopping trip. It was here that she realized she had given birth to a race horse, had to buy walking shoes and beg to hail a cab.

She also loved cooking for her family. She was awe-inspiring in the kitchen. Her meals were always prepared to perfection and served with love. No one dare, leave the table without filling plates a second time and never before she said it was ok.

Dorothy has always been the matriarch of both the family she was born into and the one she created with Ed. She had the stamina, intelligence, strength, confidence & power to navigate all situations for those she loved. She would walk through fire to protect everyone in her family, unabashedly fearless. Her children, sisters, parents and Ed all knew she would move heaven and earth to cure all ills.

She was a friend to all who met her and loved each person deeply. She had compassion, was funny, a good listener, problem solver and a prayer warrior to all in need.

God’s greatest gift in Dorothy’s life were her children, Mike and Gina. In her own words, they gave her life joy and meaning. They made her life perfect. She loved every first with them. From teaching her son how to drive, & endless lessons to try & teach Gina to swim. All she wanted was to spend time with them. To spend as much time as possible to scratch lottery tickets, listen to Mikes funny animated stories, to tease Gina that she didn’t have a sense of humor. To see her granddaughter Cristina, & great granddaughter Kylie. To be with her sister Barbara & her daughter Sheri and great niece Paige. To see her son in law, Doug. Above all, to never have Ed leave her side.

The lessons we can all learn from Dorothy is to put God first, then family & friends. To approach everything with reckless abandon. To live passionately. To live like there’s no tomorrow & when the going gets tough to pray & eat chocolate!

Those of you who know Dorothy won’t be surprised that every detail of her funeral and end of life plans have been written out. From her blue dress hanging in white plastic in her closet and socks on her feet, with direction to make sure they do it. The information for her friend and singer, Alan Burch. The color of flowers, and the single most important detail to have her dearest and loved so deeply Pastor and friend, Rick Friesen officiate. Rick and Dorothy share a sweet and special bond and these two would literally walk through fire for the other. Deepest of gratitude for the blessing of Rick not only throughout the years, but in the family’s darkest days and Dorothy’s final hours home. The Whitcomb family is so deeply grateful.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Pearl and Jim Mills, her sister Mildred Mills. She is survived by her beloved husband Edward R. Whitcomb, her sister Barbara Quattlebuam (Bill), her son Michael J. Whitcomb, (Judith Koontz),her daughter Gina R. Whitcomb (Douglas A. Shively) , her granddaughter, Cristina Hernandez (Adam Reed), her great granddaughter Kylie Hernandez, niece Sheri Holman (Joshua Holman) great niece Paige Holman.