Marilyn L. Dotts
July 20, 1955 ~ January 1, 2024
Marilyn L. Dotts, 68, of Kechi, Retired Wichita State University Graduate School, Accounting Specialist & Retired United States Postal Worker, passed Monday, January 1, 2024 unexpectedly in her home.Marilyn was a church member at Hillside Christian Church, Wichita, KS. She was a devoted grandmother, mother, friend, and co-worker. She was an expert gardener, master chef, musician, volunteer, neighbor, seamstress, handy-woman, and crafter.She is survived by her daughter, Janelle (James) Mooneyham; daughter-in-law, Melissa Dotts; and her grandchildren, Cooper Dotts, Talon Dotts, Addelina Dotts; Grant Mooneyham, Karley Mooneyham; mother-in-law, Wanda Willson; great-nephews, Paul Steele and Nelson Ealey.Marilyn is preceded in death by her son, Aaron Dotts; parents, Lloyd and Faye Maring; sisters, Sharon Gray, Chris Ott, Jeanne Ackerson; niece, Kimberly Steele-Ealey; nephew, John Gray. She will be missed by family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors.Celebration of Life Services will take place on 4:30 pm, Friday, January 26, 2024, at Hillside Christian Church.Memorials have been established with the Aaron Dotts Family Fund Venmo Account (@Melissa-Dotts-1) or the Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N. Hillside, Wichita, KS 67219.Services in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary - East Chapel.
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Last night I was looking at the time and it was almost 9:30 and I thought about calling you as usual. I will miss our at least twice a week phone conversations. I counted on talking to you to hear about your day and what you were able to accomplish outside. You were stubborn and opinionated, but had a huge heart and cared deeply for those close to you, just like all the other Maring sisters. I have lots of regret that I was unable to answer your phone call Friday evening. If only I could hear your voice and laughter one more time and to tell you I love you. Don’t worry Cooper and Janelle will take good care of Sparky for you. I imagine you are celebrating and enjoying your reunion with Aaron, your sisters, your Mom and Dad, John, and Kim.
Yes I agree, Marilyn was stubborn & opinionated, but she did definitely care for her friends & family & would do anything for them. I appreciated her honesty, she definitely said what she thought.
MEMORIES OF MY FRIEND MARILYN DOTTS
I first met Marilyn when I was working for the United States Postal Service. I honestly don’t remember how we clicked but I was glad we did. We had a lot in common and I liked her character. Marilyn, as her daughter said, was a very good cook, master chef. That honestly might be how we met now that I think about it. We both loved cooking and enjoyed eating a tasty meal. What I remember most about Marilyn was she was a very hard worker, had a good work ethic, she liked to garden and was very creative and smart. She could always make me laugh and she was always kind to invite me over to her home so we could hang out. Marilyn kept a beautiful home. I loved her pets and I loved that she was an animal lover. She treated her baby animals so well and I am glad they made her so happy. She loved Ollie, Scrappy and Sparky so much and I remember Scrappy winning a contest because she made a cute patriotic outfit for him and he won. Regarding her babies I know she loved her grandchildren with all her heart. She was so proud of them and she was such a good grandmother. Before she passed I had texted Marilyn about the SPLURGE magazine contest. I had remembered her telling me she wanted to enter COOPER for the photo contest for the cutest child. She thought COOPER had the prettiest eyes, and he did. I remember her telling me about Talons wrestling and her birthday outing with Addelina. Family was so important to Marilyn.
I know Marilyn was super proud of her children Aaron and Janelle and she talked about them all the time when we would get together. This last year I didn’t see Marilyn as much because she valued her family so much and dedicated most of her time to them. I am so glad she spent time with her family, because family really is everything.
I will miss seeing my friend Marilyn again: the renaissance woman. I wish I could give her another hug. Marilyn I love you and I will see you in Heaven. Thank you for being my friend.
I agree Marilyn was a hard worker. For quite a while she worked 2 jobs at the post office & the WSU graduate office while helping to make sure her mother was taken care of. She talked about a co-worker at the post office it might have been you? I agree she was creative,smart, & had a good sense of humor.
This is very sad news of Marilynn’s passing. Rev. Dennis and I remember her for her kind heart and huge talent. Her family will always be a treasure in our hearts. Prayers for all of you as we hold you up to our Heavenly Father for peace and comfort.
I have so many memories with Marilyn, that they flood my thoughts! I think we’ve been friends since we were 4 or 5 years old. I miss her so terribly, you don’t realize just how much you love someone until they are gone!!!
One of my fondest memories with Marilyn and her sister Jeanie was raking leaves in their backyard on Dellrose street. We would spend hours creating our houses with different rooms by arranging the leaves as the lines to define each room of our houses. It may sound silly, but we imagined these huge beautiful houses out of our placed leaves.
We loved to jump rope, especially the big ones that takes two people to turn the rope together! We would jump inside the rope being turned together, then we would jump back out of it without messing it up!
I remember going over to her house after school and her Mom (Faye,) would have homemade bread made and we would cut off a slice and slather butter on it and it eat while it was still warm! It was heaven!
One of my vivid memories was the time Marilyn and I each snuck a banana to eat and we weren’t suppose to snack on them. All of a sudden Faye or Lloyd came in and was going to catch us and we’d be in big trouble, so Marilyn yelled, “ quick, get rid of the banana!” All I could think of was to flush it down the toilet and boy was that a mistake!!! The toilet started to over flow and Lloyd said, “who did this?” I was probably still hiding, and Marilyn replied, “little Sharon did.” They called me little Sharon because Marilyn’s older sister was named Sharon too, so they called me little Sharon to tell us apart when talking about us.
We played Barbie’s together all the time. Our parents played bridge together every Saturday night, so many nights we spent the night with each other. I remember taking bubble baths together when we were little girls and we’d get in trouble by Lloyd for spilling water from our water escapades! After we married I moved out of State and we were busy raising our families. In the last 3 or 4 years I reconnected with her where we were calling each other at least 3-4 times a week, discussing our kids, grandkids, and our dogs. One of my jobs that I work in I travel an hour to and from work. I would call her and she would talk to me all the way home, because sometimes I have trouble staying awake. She would call me on her way to Aarons house or Janelle’s, and visit with me. We always had to catch up on the latest thing happening in our lives. She helped me through some difficult times. One time she called me when I happened to be crying and sobbing so hard and she calmed me down and was so genuinely concerned for my pain and sadness. I knew she REALLY LOVED ME, and that meant EVERYTHING to me!! I loved her so very much!!! I was closer to her than my own sister! Marilyn WAS MY SISTER!!!
I will MISS YOU MY SWEET SISTER!! I love you Marilyn!!! May you rest In peace.😊😘🙏🏻
I will post pictures of Marilyn, Becky, and I.
We were all friends since we were 5 yrs. old.
Yes will miss our fun times getting together!
I was a friend of Marilyn since we were 5 years old. Sharon was a little closer to Marilyn in our early years since her parents played cards together & they lived closer. Marilyn & I attended Adams Elementary, Robinson Junior high & East high school.
I remember our exciting trip with 2 other girls to Corpus Christi & Padre Island when we were around 18 yrs old. We went to the beach, met new friends, went dancing, pretty much did whatever we wanted. I remember meeting a really nice girl from Mexico that was staying at a motel next to ours. We had no pool at our motel but she had one & let us go swimming there. Marilyn & I talked about that trip recently & laughed saying we could have been, “hurt or even killed”! It seemed like a different world back then & we did not feel any danger but just met alot of nice people.
Aaron & my daughter Genevieve were just 1 month a part in age. I was living in Seattle but came back to Wichita to visit. I visited Marilyn, took a picture of Aaron & Genevieve on her couch. Will look for that photo.
Marilyn & I became closer friends as we were older. We would call each other often, meet for lunch or coffee, or just stop by to drop off food or flower seeds.
Marilyn suffered with having COVID a couple years ago. She had just gotten out of the hospital. I dropped by to bring her an icy drink & visit on her side porch which was a relaxing place to sit.
I appreciated Marilyn taking me to have a knee surgery since my friend had to work & was not able to take me. She not only took me but stayed with me. I remember she commented to my doctor when he put initials on my knee, “Oh you are a lefty” that means you will do a good job. The dr said, I hope so. Since Marilyn was left handed she noticed if other people were left handed. She waited in the waiting room until Salvador arrived to pick me up. I told her she did not have to stay, but she insisted. That is a true friend!
I know Marilyn loved her family she talked about how proud she was of Cooper in his sports & volunteering at the VA. She said she needed to bring more books to read to Addi, because Addi liked for her to read books to her. She recently sent me a picture of acorn coasters, a cutting board, & soup cups she got on sale at Dillons. She said she was going to give them to Janelle. She would call me often when she was heading to take food to Aaron, Melissa, & Addi. She for sure was always thinking what she could do for her family to help them.
I will miss Marilyn much! We could always talk about anything, our problems, our family, or our plans. Thinking of Marilyn’s family & sending much love to them.