Dorothy Ayers

Dorothy Curtis Ayers, 90, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, July 17, 2007, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.

Dorothy was born April 18, 1917, on the family farm, north of Massena, Iowa, the daughter of Emanuel and Frances (Bright) Jensen. She was raised north of Massena and graduated from the Massena High School.

On August 21, 1940, Dorothy married Robert Curtis. Bob died in June of 1990. In 1992, she married Dr. Clive Ayers, who also preceded Dorothy in death.

She taught kindergarten for over 35 years in Atlantic, Cumberland, Massena and Creston, Iowa. She remembered and kept a scrapbook of all her students over the years.

Dorothy was also an active volunteer in the Cass County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and was President of the organization when she was 85.

She was an active member of the First United Church of Christ in Atlantic, and was a member of the Retired Teacher's Association.

Among the accomplishments listed above, Dorothy was a kind and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great mother-in-law. She was truly a "giver", always caring to all, regardless of whether she knew the person or not. Dorothy was a good friend to all and never knew a stranger.

Dorothy is survived by three sons, Duane Curtis and his wife, Pam of Lewis, Iowa, Royce Curtis and his wife Lynn of Westby, Wisconsin, and Rollin Curtis and his wife, Lois Ann of Sacramento, California; grandchildren, Jennifer Curtis of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Levi Curtis of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Nathan Curtis of Lewis, Iowa, Andra Curtis of Westby, Wisconsin, Alex Curtis of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Jeff Curtis and his wife, Shelley of Denver, North Carolina, Jill Webb and her husband, Dave of Sacramento, California. Nikole Curtis of Edmond, Oklahoma and Nikolas Curtis of Denmark. Five great-grandchildren Jeffrey and Brenden Curtis of Denver, North Carolina. Kayla and Connor Webb of Sacramento, California, Logan Curtis of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. She is also survived by her sister, Lola Berg and her husband, Lloyd of Wiota, Iowa, a sister-in-law, Josie Curtis of Atlantic, Iowa and Donna Bell of Edmond, Oklahoma.

Her parents Emanuel and Frances Jensen preceded Dorothy in death. Her husbands, Robert Curtis and Dr. Clive Ayers; her son, Dan E. Curtis; a brother, Lawrence Jensen; her sisters, Myrtle Pop and Rosemary Jensen, as well as her brother-in law, Eugene Curtis and numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Visitation with the family is scheduled for Thursday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 20, 2007, at the First Church of Christ in Atlantic with Pastor Dale Kesterson officiating.

Committal services and interment will be in the Atlantic Cemetery, followed by a gathering at the church for a time of fellowship and lunch.

The family is requesting that memorials go to the Cass County Memorial Hospital Auxilary or to the First Church of Christ in Atlantic.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic is handling the arrangements.