Dorothy A. Naylor

Dorothy A. Naylor, 82, of Willmar, past away peacefully on Friday, April 12th at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. Her funeral service will be at 10:30 am, Wednesday, April 17th at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 pm, Tuesday at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and continue one hour prior to her service at the church. Burial will be in Knollwood Cemetery in Fergus Falls. Memorials are preferred. www.hafh.org

Dorothy was born on December 1, 1936, to Esther and Stacy Doble in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at Augustana Lutheran Church in Fergus Fall. Fergus Falls is where she attended school and graduated from high school.

Dorothy attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She met her husband, Bill Naylor, at Concordia and they were married at Augustana Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls on December 28, 1957. With a two-year teaching certificate, Dorothy worked as an Elementary School Teacher while Bill pursued his advanced degrees. Dorothy and Bill spent the early years of their marriage living in a variety of locations while Bill furthered his education, and Dorothy worked as a teacher to support them. When Bill began his work career, Dorothy went back to Concordia and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Social Psychology.

Dorothy and Bill settled in Willmar, MN, where he worked as a Special Education Director and Licensed Consulting Psychologist, and she worked as a Substitute Teacher. Willmar was where they raised their three children. They were active members of Vinje Lutheran Church and enjoyed many family activities such as camping, biking, hiking, hunting, fishing, skiing, and spending time at their cabin on Bottle Lake in northern Minnesota.

Dorothy was always willing to help those in need and promote educational causes. Dorothy was involved in a variety of volunteer organizations in Willmar like The Sexual Assault Program, The Humane Society, and the Hospital Auxiliary group. She tutored adults who did not know how to read, and helped coordinate The Native American Awareness Gathering’s children’s program.

Dorothy was an avid reader, who enjoyed reading clubs, church circle groups, and lively book discussions. She also enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, writing poetry, and playing the ukulele while she and her family sang songs together. Dorothy was a lifelong teacher and learner who was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, who she lovingly cared for in good times and bad, and in sickness and in health.

Dorothy is survived by her sister, Shirley Wagner; her children Chris, Marcus, Jeanne and their respective families.

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