Dorothy Rice Gauvin (Dottie) passed away peacefully on August 4, 2025, in Houston, Texas, her home for many years before moving to Port Orchard, Washington. She had a long, full life of 98 years, outliving 7 sisters and 2 brothers. Dottie is interred beside Albert Gauvin, her devoted husband at Rill Chapel Life Tribute Center in Port Orchard, WA.

We are saddened by the loss of our remarkable mother and a dear friend to so many. But our sadness is comforted by joy, a joy given to us by the words of Jesus, “those who believe in me, though they die, they will live, for I will raise them up on the last day.” Dottie, truly lived in the certain hope of Jesus’ words.

In her early years, Dorothy grew up on 25 acres of farmland in Navasota Texas. The difficulties she faced shaped her voracious love of reading and getting the best education possible. The generosity she valued and practiced was also shaped from those difficult years. She excelled as a student, often tutoring more advantaged peers as well as teaching an adult neighbor to read. She eventually earned a full scholarship to the University of Texas, but was unable to attend her beloved “Longhorns” university. Undaunted, she later graduated with high honors from the University of Houston, returning much later to earn her Master of Marketing. Through constant improvement and innovation within the savings and loan industry, she eventually became President of Katy Savings and Loan and then started her own consulting business in marketing for financial institutions.

If you knew “Dottie,” you knew her love for reading. She often read multiple novels simultaneously. She told me that as a young, pre-teen girl growing up in Navasota, Texas, she had read just about every book in her small town library. The librarian allowed her to take home their first copy of “Gone with the Wind”, as long as she returned it by the end of the weekend. She read the entire novel in two and a half days! Quite a feat for an adolescent.

During their time together in Port Orchard, looking out over the beautiful Puget Sound, Dottie and Al became dear friends with so many. Dorothy enjoyed playing Scrabble and was usually unbeatable. I was never able to defeat her! She and Al entered several regional Scrabble tournaments and mom placed well in several of those. She also loved a domino game called 42. She had learned this game from her brother Amos. I think she loved to play it because it brought back precious memories of her dear brother Amos.

Dorothy was also a devoted sponsor and event organizer for local groups such as the Sydney Museum and Art Guild, the Port Orchard Library, ROWA (Retired Officers Women’s Auxiliary) and the Ann Wilson Guild which raises money for the uncompensated care of children in Children’s Hospital in Seattle. She loved helping these organizations and truly flourished while cooking for and hosting fundraisers for them. One of her quiet virtues was giving back the blessings she had received in this life; especially helping others with their education.

Some of Dottie’s favorites things were, visiting her and Al’s children, seeing other grandchildren grow. Other favorites were yellow roses, DDD (Dear Darling Dottie), a moniker given her by her beloved Al, Clark Gable, Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger, the Dallas Cowboys when they were coached by “saint” Tom Landry, Blue Bell Ice Cream (Vanilla only) and Texas beef. Mary Beslagic, a dear friend and loved like a daughter.

My sister, Barbara Wood and her husband, Will, my wife, Harlene, and I want to especially express our deepest gratitude and respect for the loving care and friendship given to mom by family members and friends. Your cards, phone calls, thoughtful gifts, and visits meant so much to mom and to us. We can never thank you enough. Among these are Steve and Shirley Gauvin, their three daughters, Katy, Carolyn and Lauren, James Albert Foley, Sandy Tometich, Sheri Green, Linda Scheer and those special ladies from Sydney Museum and Arts Guild and Ann Wilson Children’s Hospital Guild. I can’t tell you how often you were mentioned with such fondness. A special note of thanks to Ricki Mathis, granddaughter, for all your efforts to connect, remember and question. You have made a deep impression on us.

Our family would greatly appreciate you sharing memories on the Rill Chapel memorial page.