Dorothy L. Sorley passed from this life at the age of 88 years to her heavenly home on March 14, 2022. Home going celebration of life services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, at First Baptist Church, Muleshoe, Texas with Dr. Stacy Connor officiating. Dorothy will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband, Grady, at the Bovina Cemetery.
Dorothy was born on December 14, 1933 at home in Lamb County, Texas to her parents, Ernest and Ethel (Perry) Jones. She grew up on the family farm near Olton and attended Olton public schools. She was a member of the Valley View Community Church during her formative years. At her mother's side she learned her wonderful cooking and homemaking skills with which she would later bless her family and friends. However, she had a bit of tomboy in her, as well. Dorothy's dad, Ernest, enjoyed tinkering on automobiles and all types of mechanical things. She loved spending time with him and learning some of those mechanical skills, but mostly just spending time with him. She also delighted in telling stories of flying with him in his airplane and the thrill of doing loop de loops through the sky. During high school, her dad's shop seemed to be a gathering place where many young high school boys liked to hang out, tinkering on cars and other such things. This is where Dorothy would eventually meet the love of her life, Grady. Dorothy and Grady were married on August 26, 1950 and set out on their life journey together. In 1952, they became the proud parents of a son, Phillip. In 1954 they moved their young family from Olton to Bovina, Texas where they were later blessed with a daughter, Debra, and then a son, Ken. They lived and farmed in the Bovina community for many happy years.
Dorothy and Grady went about their lives as a team, where you saw one, you most often would see the other. They were active in their community and church. Dorothy taught Sunday School at the First Baptist Church, was a member of W.M.U., sang in the choir, and was busy in many other church and community activities. She took great pride in her home and worked tirelessly on her beautiful landscape which everyone admired.
Dorothy and Grady are lovingly remembered for the many years they blessed others with their beautiful voices, as they sang for worship services, revivals, and many other happy and solemn occasions. They comforted many families at the passing of their loved ones. In 1978, they recorded a gospel album, "Sweet 'n Easy", that many friends and family still enjoy today.
In 2011 they moved from their beloved home in Bovina to Lubbock, Texas. In 2013, however, they decided to make the move back to their hometown of Olton where Dorothy could receive the care she would need after her receiving the devastating diagnosis of Alzheimers. Dorothy will be remembered for many things, not the least of which was her beautiful smile and loving, compassionate spirit. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Grady W. Sorley, her parents, Ernest and Ethel Jones, and one sister, Frances Allene Jones.
She will be forever loved and remembered by her sister, Barbara McFadden of Olton; sister in law Nita Powell of Rockdale TX; and brother in law and wife Gene and Imogene Sorley, of Lubbock, TX. Her children, Phillip and wife Patty of Huntington Beach, CA; Debra and husband Mike Beauchamp of Friona, TX; and Kenneth and wife Terri of Clovis, NM. Her 9 grandchildren, David Cole Sorley of Columbia, MO; James and Alison Sorley Atwood, of San Diego, CA; Chris Sorley and Jill, of Manhattan Beach, CA; Angela Beauchamp of Friona TX; Jeremy and Lori Beauchamp Tharp, of Hydro, OK; Tony and Traci Beauchamp, of Lazbuddie, TX; Sara Sorley, of Clovis, NM; Seth and Jill Sorley Ellsworth, of Clovis, NM; and Sydney Sorley, of Lubbock, TX. 15 great- grandchildren; Ethan, Lorelei, Isaiah, Maia, Kolsen, Carter, Callan, Wyatt, Grady, Kate, Natalie, Autumn, Madelyn, Nick, and Luke.
Memorials may be made in Dorothy's name to First Baptist Church Muleshoe, PO Box 483, Muleshoe, Texas, 79347; First Baptist Church Bovina, PO Box 550, Bovina, Texas, 79009; Running Water Draw Care Center, PO Box 409, Olton, Texas, 79064; or The National Alzheimers Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois, 60601.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39