Dorothy Lou (Williams) Bellis

Dorothy Lou (Williams) Bellis was born November 5, 1936, in Aurora, Missouri, to Leo James Williams and Anna Lee (Wise) Williams. Dorothy passed away July 4, 2022, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, surrounded by her family.
At a young age Dorothy and Dale met, grew up together and started dating in high school. They both grew up on family farms. Dorothy graduated from Aurora High School in 1954. They were united in marriage on March 17, 1955, at Orange Cumberland Presbyterian Church where they were lifelong members. They were married just shy of 61 years when Dale passed away March 6, 2016. They brought three children into their family Jim, Bob, and Julie.
Dorothy retired from MWM Dexter in Aurora, Missouri, where she was the voice of the company as the switchboard operator. The church was always the center of their marriage and family. Dorothy sang in the Orange Quartet traveling, spreading Gospel music. She directed the Orange Junior Choir for many years, throughout all those years, she gathered up a lot of chewing gum in her hand so the children could sing. Dorothy and her children also sang together. Dorothy was known for her wonderful cooking and especially her baking bread and rolls. Dorothy and her sister-in-law, Doris (Bellis) Means cooked many summers at Camp Cumberland feeding the staff and campers, where her kids and grandchildren still attend.
Dale and Dorothy’s children married and raised their families with the same conservative Christian values, now each with a growing family of their own. Dale and Dorothy’s family is rounded off with three children, Jim and Carla Bellis, Bob and Sharon Bellis and Tony and Julie Keatts; seven grandchildren and their spouses; ten great-grandchildren and two on the way. Dorothy has three surviving sisters, Wanda Grimes, Barbara Edwards, and Nora Lee Hilton.
Throughout the last few years, two amazing women, Christie Vanderlaan and Gemma Reid helped her children care for her. They loved her like their own mother, and she was so blessed to have them.
A funeral service under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora was held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 9. 2022, at the Orange Cumberland Presbyterian Church with burial that followed at the Orange Cemetery. Visitation was held prior to the services from 2:00-3:00 pm.
Memorial donations may be made to the Orange Cumberland Presbyterian Church in care of the funeral home.
Online condolences may be shared at www.CraftonCantrellFuneralHome.com.