Dorothy M. Kaiser

DOROTHY MAE KAISER

Dorothy Mae Kaiser, 97, Centralia, MO passed away Thursday, April 2, 2026, at her home. She was born July 5, 1928, near Terre Haute, IN the daughter of the late Thomas and Mabel (Pratt) Smith. She graduated from Clinton Indiana High School in 1946 and went to work at J.C. Penny’s trimming windows and shadow boxes in the store. On November 3, 1946, she was united in marriage to Ernest B. Kaiser who preceded her in death on April 16, 2012. They continued farming the family farm and later they bought a farm near Jamestown, IN and moved there.

She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by one son Gilbert Kaiser (Sandra) of Centralia, MO; two daughters Karen Davis of Centralia, MO and Frances Busby of Centralia, MO; five grandchildren Stacy Kaiser (Sarah), Denise Clark (Rick), Dawn Henderson (Caine), Shawn Yund (Ryan), and Scott Rippeto; eleven great grandchildren Katey Kaiser, Chloey Kaiser, Bradley Kaiser, Carrie Johnson, Hudson Henderson, Peyton Henderson, Alexis (Clark) Haynes, Austin Clark, Brittany Miller, Samantha Davis, Martin Yund; thirteen great great grandchildren; two nephews, Tim Huffman (Nancy), Mark Huffman (Jill) and their families; other relatives and many dear friends. In addition to her parents and husband, her brother, her sister, her son in law, and one great great grandchild preceded her in death.

Dorothy worked on and off the family farm for many years. She first worked for an insurance company in Indianapolis, IN and went to IBM school and became a keypunch operator. Then they sold the family farm and moved to Oakland, IL in 1958. She was a 4-H leader in Indiana and Illinois. In 1968, they moved to Missouri and she went to work at the MU Med Center in Columbia, MO in the Radiology Department, retiring in 1975. She was a member of the Centralia Flower and Garden Club for forty plus years, Harrison Farm Women’s Club and the First Christian Church in Centralia, MO. She loved to travel and spent many years in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. She enjoyed square dancing, sewing, puzzles, reading and ceramics.

Funeral services will be 10:00 am on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Oliver Funeral Home in Centralia, MO. Interment will be in the Centralia City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Oliver Funeral Home in Centralia, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to the Centralia First Christian Church, c/o Oliver Funeral Home, P.O. Box 125, Centralia, MO 65240. Condolences may also be made to the family at www.oliverfuneralhome.net