STOUGH, Dorothy (Dot)

Messinger’s Mortuary, Scottsdale, Arizona Dorothy Edwards Stough May 16, 1921 ~ July 10, 2013 DOROTHY “DOT” EDWARDS STOUGH Dot was born on May 16, 1921 in Palo Pinto County, Texas to George Edwin Edwards and Nettie Cunningham Edwards. Her three older sisters, Meda Viana (MV), Georgia Fay, Mamie Dell and her younger brother James Douglas all precede her in the new world. She grew up in the fields of Lamb County, Texas picking cotton, feeding her chickens (her egg money source) and getting into trouble with James whenever possible. Her years with her parents were cut short when they died within months of each other when Dot was 12. The Edwards’ were survivors in 1933 and Dot and James lived with her oldest sister MV and Siebert Cowan until Dot graduated from high school. Shortly after in 1941, she joined the Women’s Army Corp where she made quite an impression and rose quickly through the enlisted ranks, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. She was encouraged to attend Officer Candidate School and received her commission in 1948. She attained the rank of captain shortly before she met Paul Allen Stough in early 1954 while they were both stationed in La Rochelle, France. They were married by the French mayor of La Rochelle, but just to be sure, they got married again on the 25th of September, 1954 by a military judge. Dot and Paul proceeded to travel around Europe on their free weekends until they transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia in 1955. Dot’s military career was cut short by the sudden appearance of Dan, their only son, born in 1957. The Stough family moved to Scottsdale Arizona in May 1961 where Dot proceeded to start making their new home on Oak Street. She was a community organizer, seed planter, rock-hound, cookie baker, jelly maker, bird feeder, dog brusher, skinned knee fixer, bully deflector, and a planner for a better future for her neighborhood and Scottsdale in general. In 1964, Dot joined the fledgling Scottsdale Baptist Hospital Auxiliary (now UHC Osborn) and served as president of the Auxiliary in 1967. She helped get the Auxiliary thrift shop going and any other fund raising event. Dot particularly loved baseball season at the Scottsdale Stadium where she and her fellow “auxilians” would park cars there until the stadium was rebuilt in the 90’s. In the early 70’s, she was appointed to the Scottsdale Parks Commission where she served for almost 10 years. She was known for always showing off the latest park addition to the Indian Bend green belt to anyone who would listen. Dot also loved helping several former Scottsdale Council Members and/or Mayors get elected and stay elected. The young Stoughs loved to travel all over the country, including a month and half long trip driving up to Alaska in 1966. On that trip, no berry went unpicked. So Dot gave all her relatives a jar of jelly every holiday season for 10 years afterward. The Stoughs lived during the summers of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s in a cabin they built near Vallecito Lake in Colorado. Dot loved the blooming columbines of Colorado and was known to harvest a seed or two. Dot’s legacy: Treat everyone like your best friend, Care and support your family and friends, Get involved in your community, and Plant as many trees and flowers as was humanly possible. Dot got to know her grandson, Brian Walter Stough for the few years that he was on this earth. She will now get to see him and all the family members and good friends that have preceded her. Go with God, mom. Heaven will be an even better place now that you’re there. A memorial service will be held at 9:00 am on Monday July 15th, 2013 at Messinger’s Mortuary chapel located at 7601 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale, AZ. The immediate family will take her to her final resting place at the VA National Cemetery at Pinnacle Peak Road and Cave Creek Road.