"Lit a candle in memory of Dorothy Nell Laake"
In loving memory of
Dorothy Nell Laake
August 26, 1925 - September 12, 2016
Dorothy Herrin Laake, 91, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, formerly of Austin, Texas, passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness on Monday, September 12, 2016.
Dorothy Nell Herrin was born in Carl, Texas, on August 26, 1925, to Archie Allen Herrin and Esther Lee Davis Herrin. Shortly after her birth, she and her family moved to west Texas where she enjoyed life on the family farm. Her family moved back to the Oak Hill area when she was a child. Her family lived in the Old Rock Store currently known as Austin Pizza Garden. As a teenager, Dorothy was baptized and enjoyed singing hymns and solos at the First Baptist Church of Oak Hill. She treasured the times that her family gathered in the evenings to read the Bible, pray, and sing hymns.
While working as a change girl in a five and dime store on Congress Avenue, Dorothy was swept off her feet by a dashing, young soldier, Eddie Laake. After courting for a few months, Eddie asked for Dorothys hand in marriage. Eddie and Dorothy were happily married for over 70 years from April 24, 1943, until Eddies death in December, 2013.
Eddie and Dorothy began their family following Eddies return from World War II. They were blessed with seven children. As a military wife and homemaker, Dorothy traveled to Korea, Germany and many parts of the United States.
In addition to her husband and parents, Dorothy was predeceased by three sisters and four brothers: Velma New, Hazel Wheeler, Sylvia Gross, Ira Herrin, Jerrell Herrin, Othel Herrin, and Cecil Herrin, Sr. She was also preceded in death by three granddaughters: Dawn James, Glenda Park, and Meagan Radetski.
Dorothy is survived by six daughters and one son. Children are: Sherry Pitts of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Betty and Chuck James of Cleveland, Tennessee, Elaine Good of Austin, Texas, Jeanie and Ray Geymer of Phoenix, Arizona, Debbie Laake of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Ben and Kathy Laake of Stafford, Virginia, and Sheila and Joel Fleming of Bertram, Texas. She is survived by eighteen grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. She is survived by one sister, Alline Branson of Dallas, Texas, one brother, DeRay Herrin of Ft. Worth, Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dorothys hobbies included cooking, gardening, sewing, keeping in touch via email, talking on the phone for hours at a time, and playing checkers. She always enjoyed singing hymns and praying. Her favorite hymns included In the Garden and Victory in Jesus. She will be deeply missed.
A funeral service will be held at 10 AM on Thursday, October 6, 2016, at Harrell Funeral Home, 4435 Frontier Trail, Austin, Texas. The family will receive family and friends for one hour prior to the service beginning at 9AM.
A graveside service will be held at 2:30 PM Thursday, October 6, 2016, at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas.
Tributes
"Deb and the Laake Family: First time we met your mom was at her 90th Birthday Gathering and she was very sharp and still In-Charge. She is on her way to a better life and your dad will be waiting with open arms. RIP my neighbor till we meet again. The Leonard's (Daph and Pat)"
"Although I did not know Dorothy Laake, I certainly knew her daughter, Debbie. I hope Debbie reads these condolences and knows that I am thinking of her at this time of sorrow. Debbie was a wonderful Latin teacher at Small Middle School when I was the foreign language coordinator for the Austin school district. I can see Debbie in her mother's picture as a young woman in the Austin paper, especially the determined look of her mouth. Debbie was a determined teacher, determined to do her very best for her students and also for her parents, for whom she cared a great deal. I wish I knew an appropriate Latin phrase to end this small tribute to Debbie and to her parents, but I must simply confess my ignorance. Debbie, I am deeply sorry for your and your family's loss. Michael Hydak"