Dorothy I. French formerly of Plattsmouth, NE and Santa Fe, NM passed away in Wayne, NE Thursday, April 23rd. She was born near Nebraska City on July 21, 1921, the third child of John and Elizabeth (Brandt) Tyson. Dorothy graduated from Nehawka High School in 1938 and attended Peru State Teachers' College on a scholarship. After receiving her provisional teaching certificate in 1939, she taught elementary grades in the Otoe country school system.
She married Arnold French on November 26, 1941. The couple had three children, Joyce, Gary and Marcia. Arnold was killed in a car-truck accident in April of 1957. Dorothy continued to teach while earning her BS in Education degree from Peru State.
Dorothy married Robert Holm a widower with two sons David and Clifford in Nov. of 1967. She then moved to Bob's home in Los Alamos and continued her roles as wife, mother and teacher. A few hears later, Dorothy and Bob moved to Santa Fe, where she attended classes in social work and graduate studies in education at the College of Santa Fe. She became a licensed real estate agent and learned silver-smiting.
From 1971 to 1980, Dorothy and Bob owned and operated a gift shop in Santa Fe, where they specialized in native stone jewelry made by themselves and other local artisans. Dorothy did much of the management duties, supervising up to four sales persons at one time. After selling the gift shop, Dorothy worked for the New Mexico state penitentiary in the records department for six years.
In 1987, Dorothy returned to Plattsmouth. She worked as a substitute teacher in the Omaha Schools and took painting classes. She also served as a volunteer at the Plattsmouth Senior Center and was an active member of the United Methodist Women's group.
In 1999, Dorothy was diagnosed with avascular necrosis, a bone disease. She moved to the Wayne Care Centre in July 2000, where she lived until her demise.
Dorothy is survived by her son Gary French of Wayne, a son-in-law Orval Higel of Plattsmouth, a step son Clifford Holm of Albuquerque, NM, eight grandchildren, one brother-in-law, Wilbur Ringler of Manhattan, KS and numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, three sisters, husband Arnold French, husband Robert Holm, step-son David Holm and daughters, Joyce Clemens and Marcia Higel.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 30th from 1-9 PM with family greeting friends from 2 – 4:30 PM. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 1st at the First United Methodist Church in Plattsmouth with burial following in the family plot at Wyuka Cemetery in Nebraska City. The family suggests memorials to the Methodist Church or Habitat for Humanity. Fusselman-Wymore Funeral Home, Plattsmouth 296-4445. Condolences to www.fusselmanwymore.com