Dorothy Maye (Carpenter) Burch was born on August 29, 1924 in Elmo, Missouri, the daughter of Dana O. and Pearl (Goodwin) Carpenter. Dorothy entered into eternal peace on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at the Elm Heights Care Center in Shenandoah.

Dorothy's early years were spent in the Elmo community, where she graduated from high school. On January 11, 1944 she was united in marriage to Lawrence Burch in Hiawatha, Kansas. The couple made their home in Shenandoah, following their marriage.

During her working years, Dorothy was employed by Henry Fields Nursery and later at Eaton Corporation, where she retired from. She was a dedicated member of the First Baptist Church. Some of her interests included reading, doing crossword puzzles, playing card games, attending family outings, reading the Bible, and being involved with church activities. Dorothy had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed making conversations with those she met.

She was preceded in death by her parents and nine siblings Charley, Byron, Galen, Landis, an infant brother, Wilma, Velma, Lois and Minnie Lee.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children Max Burch and wife Barb of Bonner Springs, KS and Twila Larson and husband Chuck of Sidney, IA; step-daughter Donna Harper of Weatherford, TX; brothers, Doyle Carpenter and wife Rosie of Elmo, MO and Calvin Carpenter and wife Bonnie of Essex, IA; sister, Joan Sloan of Burlington Jct., MO; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; other relatives and many friends.