Dorothy Waller
Respecting her wishes, a private family celebration and send-off for Dorothy R. Waller will be held at a later date.
Dorothy, 85, passed away Oct. 21, 2024.
Dorothy was born July 28, 1939, graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas and furthered her education at North Texas State University in Denton.
She dedicated her career to nurturing others, working as a dietitian, managing the Dallas Woman’s Club and the Monticello West Senior Living Community and working part-time at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce way past retirement age while also providing private home childcare.
As a woman of faith, Dorothy was a member of Hamilton United Methodist Church. Her life was a testament to her strong Christian values, which were evident in her commitment to her community and her church.
Dorothy’s life was rich in personal relationships. She was the life of every party and the heart of every family gathering.
She was a member of the Red Hat Society in Hamilton and relished participating in community events, fairs, festivals, plays, movies and dining out.
Her giving spirit and love for life left a lasting impact on everyone she met, but her family was her greatest pride and joy.
She had a beautiful marriage with Darwyn beginning the day they graduated college and started her own legacy with three daughters, Micca, Stacey and Shelly, who became the focus of her life. She played to each of their strengths and spent her life making sure they were always taken care of and in need of nothing. She was the strong-hold for each of them, equipping them with a good education, life-long skill sets and confidence in themselves to be independent and self-sustaining in life.
She made it her life goal to teach them to be content God-fearing strong and independent women of service.
Her daughters adore their mother and cherish the happy memories of a wonderful childhood and the bonds, love and friendship they shared with her as adults.
She married Temple Waller in the early 1980s, and they became a strong team who took care of each other. They had good friends and enjoyed entertaining, a gourmet cooking club, shopping, eating at new places, taking sunset boat rides on the lake and taking their dog for daily outings around their ranch on the golf cart.
They loved having the grands and great-grandchildren spend the night and make the evening all about the kids. It was better than a trip to Disneyland and filled with constant attention and love.
Landon, her first grandson. dubbed her “Memaw.” She was trying to teach him to say “Grandma,” and he would repeat “Memaw,” so she became Memaw to all from that day forward. She was the best grandmother anyone could wish for.
Temple and Dorothy’s love grew deep over the decades. One was not complete without the other. He pampered her daily, and she never stopped missing him after he passed.
She remained in their home in Hamilton after his passing and began living full-time with daughter Micca, who moved in to care for her while her other daughters were still teaching. Micca and Memaw got involved in the Hamilton Red Hats, and Memaw helped her run her import business.
Because of declining health, extenuating circumstances and her daughter Stacy retiring in September 2023, Memaw opted to move to Temple that December to live with Stacy until her passing. During this time, Memaw wanted an apartment of her own as she had never had that opportunity after moving out of her mother’s home into college and from college directly into marriage.
She found an Independent Senior Living Community in April at the Morada in Temple she decided to call home. She had a blast decorating her own place and lived there five months.
As her health declined, she moved to Garden Estates Assisted Living, where she captured the hearts of the staff and residents and made fast forever friends.
She was surrounded by love and family at her passing.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her nephew Alan Ham; parents Columbus and Dorothy Ham; uncle and aunt Mac and Ruth Hayes; husband Darwyn Rogers; second husband Temple Waller; and her beloved small dogs who brought her happiness and joy.
She is survived by her three daughters, Micca Rogers, Stacy Rogers and Shelly Stack and husband Richard; grandchildren Landon Johns, Lance Johns, Lindsey Lightfoot, Garrett Lightfoot, Bryan Lightfoot Jr. and Cameron Drew; great-grandchildren Emma Meyers, Paisleigh Johns, Marlee Johns and Hunter Truelove; sister-inlaw Leigh Ham; and nieces Nancy Turner, Susan Kreager and Lisa Di Carlo.
The family requests memorial donations to any non-profit organization advocating for children’s rights, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and organizations supporting single mothers, widows, orphans, safe houses and efforts to stop child trafficking and abuse.
Memaw loved the little children just as Jesus does and would be most honored by serving the little children of the world in extending her caring heart!
Dorothy’s beautiful soul and legacy of love and service will forever be remembered and cherished and live on through her loved ones.
