Dorothy Hite

Dorothy M. Hite, 87, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Saturday, April 07, 2007, at the Henry County Health Center. Visitation will begin after 12:00 noon on Tuesday at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Edward R. Peterson, officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the First United Methodist Church. Born March 13, 1920, Dorothy was the daughter of Orville and Anna Swailes Messer. She was raised in the White Oak community and attended the White Oak School. In September of 1938, she married Kenneth E. Hite at her parent's home. Dorothy was a lifelong resident of Henry County, except for nine years when she and her husband lived in the Phoenix area. Mrs. Hite worked for the Shaffer Pen Co. for several years. Along with her husband, Dorothy was a 50 year active member of the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Pleasant, and belonged to the United Methodist Women. She was a member of the Pleasantique Questers #434, and a former member of Bethlehem Chapter #38 Order of the Eastern Star and White Shrine of Jerusalem. Dorothy loved quilting and made many heirlooms for her family and friends. Growing irises was a favorite hobby for Dorothy. She loved to participate in the Iris Shows sponsored by the Mt. Pleasant Women's Club, where she won several grand prizes for her irises and was well known for her floral arrangements. Survivors include her husband Kenneth of Mt. Pleasant, IA; one daughter, Phyllis and her husband Dr. Ralph Barron of Akron, OH; one son, Vernon Hite and his wife Leona of Concho, AZ; five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren. Also surviving is one brother, Pete Messer and his wife Joan of Mt. Pleasant, IA; and by one sister, Marjorie and her husband David S. Thomas of New London, IA. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, and by one son Glen Hite.