Dorothy Laverne Dearden

Dottie was born on June 28th 1924 in Harvey IL and lived through her high school years in Harvey & nearby Aurora IL.

Dottie graduated as a member of the National Honor Society from Aurora High School and went on to excel at both Cornell College and Nursing School. Marriage, to Charles Mercer Barnes and 3 children intervened in a planned nursing career but she found her true calling in the field of banking where she became the very first female Vice President at Security Pacific National Bank in California. One of her greatest passions was helping women find career paths and navigate the unique challenges they faced in the workplace. Dottie was a mentor to many who went on to find great success themselves.

After 10 years as a single Mom, Dottie was lucky enough to find love again marrying Ralph Dearden and becoming stepmom to four more kids. Doug, Alan, Brian & Nancy. Dottie loved having a "Brady Bunch" family.

Dottie loved dogs (especially boxers) dancing, singing, Broadway musicals and, perhaps above all other hobbies, college football! She could sing practically every fight song from both the Pac 10 and Big 10. In her leisure she loved to travel including numerous trips to Hawaii, Montana, The Carolinas. the East Coast, the Pacific Northwest, England, Scotland and Ireland.

Dottie also loved volunteering at a hospital gift shop in her retirement years along the Central California Coast.

The family would like to thank the entire staff at Westminster Senior Living and The Arbour in particular. The care and compassion shown by so many there made for a wonderful life in her golden years. Hospice Austin should also be thanked for their kindness, understanding and absolute commitment to honoring Dottie.

Dottie is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Barbie & John Graham, son and daughter-in-law Craig and Anjali Barnes, son-in-law Dr. James Lindsey and numerous cherished grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Dottie was preceded in death by her parents Ray & Vivian Ingle, her husband Ralph Dearden and husband Charles Mercer Barnes, her sisters Viv Feldott and Lynn Percich, her daughter Cherie Lindsey and her stepdaughter Nancy Dearden.