Dorothy Donnell Steers
October 22, 1925 — March 19, 2016
Dorothy Donnell Steers, aged 90, died peacefully at her home on March 19, 2016 after valiantly battling a series of health challenges.
Born on October 22, 1925 to Pauline and Val Donnell, Dorothy was a 1943 graduate of Simpson County High School where she led the band as drum major. She attended the University of Kentucky where she played 2nd chair clarinet in the band and where she met her husband of 35 years, Roy Lee Steers.
After 33 years of working in the law office of her husband and, later, her son, as a paralegal, Dorothy retired to her second career as genealogist, Kentucky historian, and preservationist. She served in many offices over the years in the DAR and adored her post at the Simpson County Archives as researcher and educator. She compiled and published 10 volumes of Simpson County genealogical source material. In 2006, Dorothy was given the Award for Lifetime Dedication to Kentucky History by the Kentucky Historical Society.
Dorothy was a devoted member of First Baptist Church and served for many years on its By-Laws Committee. A breast cancer and colon cancer survivor, Dorothy became a staunch supporter of the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life. Like many of The Greatest Generation, Dorothy was tough, strong, and fearless, but she also knew how to have fun. She enjoyed golf, tennis, fishing, mah-jongg, and was a Life Master in Bridge. Her enthusiasm for sports, especially the UK Wildcats, was one of the greatest joys of her life as was traveling the world. Whether she was rising at 4 am to ride a camel to the top of a sand dune to see the sun rise over the Sahara, or tramping around a Simpson County creek with a university professor to locate an original boundary marker, Dorothy embraced life.
Richly blessed to live 90 years and interact with her beloved family, Dran treasured her role as matriarch. She is survived by her children Lee Steers and his wife, Judy, of Scottsdale, AZ, and Paula Brown of Richmond, VA; grandchildren Paula Steers Farese, Samantha Steers Courtney, Orran Lee Brown, Jr., and Carly Brown Buxton; and seven great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at Booker-Gilbert Funeral Home, 325 W. Cedar St. on Wednesday, March 23 from 4-8 pm. The funeral will be held at 1 pm on Thursday, March 24 at Booker-Gilbert. Interment will be at Greenlawn Cemetery. Friends who would like to make memorial contributions may do so to the Simpson County Archives.
Online condolences can be made at www.bookergilbertfh.com.