Dorothy Jean (Mills) Stratton, 97, of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Aunt, Cousin, and Friend, died June 8, 2024, surrounded by her family. Born July 4, 1926, the daughter of Alonzo and Mattie (Clevenger) Mills, Dorothy attended all eight grades at Union School, near Orrick, a one-room country school, then Excelsior Springs High School. Dorothy married her
childhood sweetheart Donald Stratton on July 8, 1944. Three children blessed their marriage, Steven, John, and Jean.
Dorothy worked as a Bookkeeper Cashier when they lived in Ingelwood, California, St. Louis, and North Kansas City. Later she and her husband managed the Excelsior Springs Memorial Airport for 13 years and owned Thunderbird Aviation and Aire-Lanes Flight Service, which was the first VA-approved flight school in Missouri. She earned a private pilot’s license, then a commercial license that required a minimum of 200 hours of flight time. She was a member of Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots founded by Amelia Earhart, and served as Secretary for the Kansas City chapter. She enjoyed flying and taking people for airplane rides.
Dorothy served as a Real Estate Broker and owned the Dorothy Stratton Real Estate Office in Excelsior Springs. She worked at Liberty Hospital and William Jewell College before retiring. She was a member of the Liberty Hospital Auxiliary where she was a president of the organization for one term and volunteered at the Hospital and the Liberty Hospital Foundation TreeHouse for 15 years.
After retiring, Dorothy and her husband spent winters in Texas and Arizona. During the summers they enjoyed camping with the Holiday Ramblers and were members of the Kansas City Area #109 Santa Fe Trail Ramblers. They helped with each years International Rally where Dorothy received several blue ribbons for crochet and jewelry pieces. Most of all, Dorothy loved being with her family. She made her famous hot dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, pies, noodles, and fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy for family dinners.
Along with her parents, sister, Lucille Mills White, and brother, Robert Mills, she was preceded in death by her husband of 73 years, Donald, on December 30, 2017.
Survivors include her three children, Steven Don Stratton and wife Christy Ann (Monks) Stratton of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, John Elbert Stratton and wife Debbie Jean (Heese) Stratton of Liberty, Missouri, and Jean Ann (Stratton) Janner and husband Wayne of Olathe, Kansas; five grandchildren, Carly Elizabeth (Stratton) Sefrit and husband Robert, Christopher Steven Stratton and wife Courtney, Cali Jean Stratton, Caleb Josiah Stratton and wife Taylor (Nowak) Stratton, and Zachary Wayne Janner; four great-grandchildren, Calla Elizabeth Sefrit, Dietrich Asher Sefrit, Adelaide Rhea Stratton, and Emersyn Ann Stratton; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
Dorothy accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was a member of First Baptist Church, Excelsior Springs, Missouri, for many years before becoming a member of Chandler Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri. She shared her faith with her family and all who knew her by her kind acts and love.
The family thanks all doctors, nurses, and other care providers at Liberty Hospital and Excelsior Springs Hospital for their exceptional care and comforting support during the final four weeks.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. and memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Chandler Baptist Church, 11401 NE State Route 33, Liberty, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends memorial gifts to Chandler Baptist Church. Cremains private, family burial later at Union Cemetery, Orrick, and Chandler Baptist Church Memorial Garden, Liberty.
Arrangements in care of Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs.
Our Sincere Condolences
To Steve, John and Jean Ann,
My heart goes out to you all as your mom leaves you here on earth but is now in heaven with her loved ones. Aunt Dorothy was always the kindest person. I haven’t seen family in Missouri for a long time. I do hope you all are healthy and happy.
Sending you much Love, Donna
Donna DeGroot
Sorry for your loss. You and your families are in our prayers.
Bruce and Deborah Nance