Dorothy Anderson

Dorothy Anderson, age 73 of Mount Dora, FL, formerly of Harris, IA passed away Thursday May 21 at The Villages Hospice House in The Villages, FL. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Thursday, May 28th at the United Methodist Church in Harris, IA, with Rev. Emmanuel T. Naweji officiating. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery at Harris, IA. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with family present from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home Walton Chapel in Sibley, IA. Dorothy Jean McClain was born April 25, 1942 in Sibley, Iowa. She was the oldest child of Lee and Doris McClain and grew up on a farm in Harris, IA, with her younger brother Bob McClain, and the twins, Mary and Jim McClain. While still a junior high school student at the Harris school, she became the Harris Methodist Church pianist. Then in 1958 the church purchased a Hammond Console Organ and Dorothy became the church organist until she graduated from Harris High School in 1960, when she left home and went to business school in Omaha, NE. Dorothy had served as pianist/organist for 5 years in Harris. Dorothy was also active in the Methodist Youth Fellowship. In 1958, she was selected to represent the Harris youth and attended the "National Convocation of Methodist Youth at Purdue University, where youth from every state were represented. The featured speaker that influenced Dorothy the most was Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Dorothy met her husband, Leslie F. Anderson in Omaha, while Leslie "Andy" was stationed at the Offutt AFB. They married at the Harris Church on December 28, 1961. Shortly thereafter, Andy was transferred to Otis A.F. Base, MA. Their oldest son, Christopher was born June, 13, 1964 in Massachusetts, and their youngest son, Robert was born December 10, 1966 in Sioux City, IA. The family moved to Mesquite, TX, where they worked and lived and raised their family for 33 years. Dorothy said they had a good life in Texas, and good jobs. She worked at AETNA Health Plan Dallas Regional Office as Administrative Assistant to the Medical Director for several years. She loved her job, and also loved her next job at ADAPT Healthcare, as Administrative Assistant and Medical Transcriptionist for psychiatrists, psychologists and behavior healthcare professionals. After retirement, Dorothy and Andy moved to Sioux Falls, SD, where their youngest son and family lived, and to be closer to Dorothy's parents. Dorothy and Andy were active in their church in Texas throughout the years. Dorothy taught Sunday school, served as substitute organist, children's choir leader, was involved in most of the committees, and was called to serve on the Evangelism Team as a personal witness. During retirement they volunteered to visit elderly hospice patients, which Dorothy said was very rewarding for her. She also worked part time for Comfortkeepers, basically performing tasks for the elderly so they could continue to live in their own homes longer. During this funeral service, Dorothy wanted to inform her family and friends, although her body is here, her spirit, her soul and personality are in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ, awaiting her imperishable body. Dorothy accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior many years ago. She admitted that she was a sinner and was very sorry for her sins. She believes in Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary and is the Son of God. She knows that Jesus died on the cross for her sins and arose on the 3rd day to save her from her sins, and that she will have everlasting life with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She wants you to read Romans 10: 9-10, "If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. She is survived by her husband, Leslie "Andy" Anderson of Mount Dora, FL; two sons, Chris Anderson of Mount Dora, FL, Robert (Teresa) Anderson and grandson Brandon Anderson, all of Sioux Falls, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Doris McClain, and brother, James McClain.