Dorothy Lee McElhinney Noel, 94, passed away peacefully June 17, 2012 at the John Knox Village Hospice House in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
She was born March 10, 1918 in Salt River Township, Schuyler County, MO, daughter of James Wesley McNabb and Alta Mae Morris McNabb (both deceased). Also preceding her in death was her sister, Virginia Reindel.
On October 9, 1937 she was united in marriage to Arthur Lee McElhinney. They lived in Schuyler and Adair Counties where she was a housewife and homemaker and engaged in farming with her husband. Lee preceded her in death on February 5, 1974.
To this marriage four daughters were born: Peggy McElhinney, Nashville, TN (deceased 12-4-08), Neta (Rev. Vernon Maggart) St. Joseph, MO, Carol (Rev. Jerry Pinkerton) Mtn. Grove, MO, Anna (Mick Mithelavage) Lee’s Summit, MO, and a brother, Morris McNabb (Virginia) of Queen City, MO. Also surviving are 9 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson from Missouri, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nevada, Alabama and Pennsylvania - along with many nieces and nephews.
Dorothy received her education graduating from the Greentop High School and some college education in Kirksville. She taught in a rural school in the Lancaster area during 1937-38, earning $20.00 a month, but using $10.00 a month for room and board. While the girls were home, the family was active with the Free Will Baptist Church in Sublette, MO and the Free Will Baptist Church of Kirksville. Dorothy was instrumental in teaching Sunday school classes and thoroughly enjoyed teaching in Vacation Bible School. She will admit she gained a great deal of knowledge, herself, in preparing the lessons. After her daughters were raised and moved away from home, she was hired at the Manhattan Restaurant in Kirksville, MO to prepare their homemade bread. She also worked at the Laughlin Hospital in the nursery for four years, and for eleven years she traveled Northeast Missouri as a Home Health Care Nurse.
On January 1, 1979, Dorothy was united in marriage to Claude Rex Noel of Kansas City, MO. They resided in the Brookside area until Rex’s death on 3-20-84. While in the Brookside area she was very involved in Shepherd’s Center where she joined a writing class and has had several articles published. She enjoyed traveling and has been to Switzerland, the Holy Land, Africa and France. In 1997 she moved to the John Knox Village Retirement Community and enjoyed writing for an internal publication, joined the sewing circle, painted ceramics and was active in the Fun Band.
She is a member of the First Baptist Church, Lee’s Summit, MO. Dorothy has always been loving, caring and thoughtful to each person her life has touched. Heaven has just gained an outstanding angel……
Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at the Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home with Reverend Vernon Maggart officiating. Burial will be in the Maple Hills Cemetery in Kirksville, MO.
Visitation with the family will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at the
Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home
2100 E. Shepherd Ave.
Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-2233
The family has suggested memorial to the donors choice.
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