Dorothy Meek Obituary

Graveside service for Dorothy Sue Meek, age 82, of Derby, Kansas, formerly of Frederick, will be 9:00 a.m.., Saturday, July 19, 2025, at the Mountain Park Cemetery, N2270 Road, Mountain Park, Oklahoma. Mrs. Meek passed away Friday, July 11, 2025, at a nursing care center in Derby, Kansas.
Dorothy Sue (Perry) Meek
"Learning the value of hard work."
Her answer was terse and to the point. "Hard work" or more precisely, "learning the value of hard work" was Dorothy's favorite memory. And when Dorothy was spotlighted last fall in the Derby Health and Rehab newsletter, her answer was printed verbatim. There was no changing it, no talking about anything fun, lighthearted, or humorous. "Work" was the answer.
And as the wonderful staff at Derby Health and Rehab will tell you, when Dorothy spoke, or gave orders, or got her mind set on something, there was no changing her mind. Even the team at Rivercross Healthcare, along with her favorite driver and coffee drinking partner, Tiffany, told us, they figured out quickly that "If Dorothy said it, that's the way it would be."
The woman they cared for at the end of her life was very much the woman that raised my sister and me (Lisa). She was direct and decisive. You did not question her. At the end of life, her verbal filters came completely off. The pleasantries of "please" and "thank you" disappeared from her vocabulary.
If you knew Dorothy before she was knocked off her feet by that nasty cancer, you understood why she acted as she did. She wasn't working. Her body wasn't working. And she felt unproductive. She felt like she had no value to contribute to life.
She was happiest when she felt like she was being her "most productive." And yes, I'm using quotations. Not to be dramatic, but because these were the words she loved to use, and honestly I believe she loved to be quoted.
In the garden, at the sewing machine, or working for others, "work" was the thing she enjoyed the most. She enjoyed being "productive" and would let you know if you weren't working hard enough to meet her standards. She was intense and focused. Even when she wasn't working, she couldn't take her foot off the gas. She was an unyielding competitor on the court or at the table. Ask any of her grandkids if they ever beat her at a game of tennis, ping pong, or her personal favorite, dominoes.
I (Lisa) speculated that Dorothy's determination was tightly connected to her compulsion to be right. And to "be right" sprang from her early drive in life to survive and her longing to have better. She labored hard to have a better life. And many of us benefited from her work.
Because of Dorothy's hard work you experienced her value. You enjoyed a great meal. Probably more than one. You looked beautiful on your wedding day. You felt confident in your clothes because they made you look good. They fit well.
Because of Dorothy's hard work your home was filled with beautiful draperies, window treatments, and bedding. And you welcomed the many oohs, aahs, and compliments from guests in your homes.
Because of Dorothy's hard work you developed a curiosity about Judeo-Christian values. Or you at least cracked open a Bible or the Torah every once in a while.
Because of Dorothy's hard work you learned how to work more efficiently. You learned how to sew, to paint, to clean house, to cook, and to balance your bank account to the penny. You learned how to play dominoes. You never won when playing against her, but hey, you still learned how to play.
So where did this value of hard work begin? It started with her family. Dorothy loved her family. She loved being around her family. She's probably taking credit (and rightfully so) that her family is getting together for a family reunion at her funeral service.
Born to sharecroppers W.C. and Laura Perry, Dorothy was the eighth of 13 children. In Dorothy's words, "I was born in Millerton, Oklahoma, even though my birth certificate says 'Valliant.' The house was located at what was known as 'the Barnes Farm'." Dorothy was called Sue, Dorothy, and Dot in her early years. Later in life she was called Aunt Dorothy, Mrs. Meek, Mom, and (her chosen and favorite title) Nana.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents and seven siblings that she loved dearly - Quinnie, Nannie, David, Betty, Bertha, Larry, John, and sadly, in June of this year, by her brother JD Perry with his wife Vann passing less than a week ago. Several in-laws, including her close friend and sister-in-law Jaretha, left this earth before Dorothy. Several cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, and went ahead of her, including her nephew Willie Eugene who left this earth in April of this year.
In July of 2022 her husband of 57 years, Haskell, left this mortal world. When she arrived in heaven this past week, we have no doubt that he's already asked her, "What's for supper?"
Who did she leave here on this big globe? Four very loved siblings - Willie, Leatha, Harold, and Doris, along with several nieces and nephews whom she held dear. We'd break the Internet if we listed all the people - family and friends - that were impacted by her life. Instead we'll add that we see you, she loved you, and you know who you are.
Finally, Dorothy is survived by her daughters and their spouses, Lisa (Jerry) and Laura (James); grandchildren and their spouses, Corbyn (Molly), Carson (Lilyanne), and Nicole (Steve). She had the wonderful opportunity to meet and get to know her great granddaughter Frankie. Even though Frankie is only two years old, we believe she has already inherited Nana's determination and persistence. And though she won't meet them, we are sure some of "Nana" will show up in her two great grandchildren due to be born later this year.
If you feel the urge to do something in memory of Dorothy, Mom, Nana, or your friend, we encourage you not to send flowers (she'd tell you that flowers are a waste of money) but instead please consider doing one of the following: 1) Cook and share a meal with family even if you suck at cooking, 2) Learn how to play dominoes*, 3) And if you're a woman, never ever skip your annual mammogram.
*There is only one correct way to play dominoes according to Dorothy. Google 'straight dominoes played with a traditional double-six set.'
Lisa Roberts Proffitt
Thank you for reading.