Dorothy Elizabeth Farris Bratton, 91, of Blue Springs, Missouri passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 from complications following a fall. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Saturday, March 19, 2022 at Royer Funeral Home in Grain Valley. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00am until service time. Graveside services will be the same day at 1:30pm in Excelsior Springs at the Masonic Cemetery on Crown Hill Road (use entrance across from Sunset Lane.) Memorials may be made payable to the Good Samaritan Center and left at Royer Funeral home on the day of service or mailed directly to the Good Samaritan Center, 108 South Thompson Avenue, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024.
Dorothy was born February 23, 1931 at home in St. Louis, MO to Walter and Lydia (Wilson) Farris. She was raised on a small farm near Unionville. Dorothy was the youngest child of four and the only daughter. Her family operated a coal mine. Dorothy attended Putnam County schools graduating from Livonia High School in 1949. She then worked at her uncle’s boarding house in Columbia while attending Noyes Hospital Nurses Training program earning a license of practical nursing. Upon graduation Dorothy was presented a full scholarship to attend General Hospital Nurses Training in Kansas City. She graduated May 11, 1954 as a Registered Nurse. While working as a nurse and living in Kansas City, Dorothy decided to learn to drive an automobile. The young man assigned to instruct at the driving school was James L. Bratton of McCune, Kansas. After class he invited Dorothy out for coffee and they married three months later on August 1, 1957. Their union lasted 47 years until Jim’s passing on Sept. 26, 2004. In 1973 the family moved to Excelsior Springs and Dorothy applied for a surgical position at the newly opened Liberty Hospital. She was hired the same day and spent the next 20 years working for what she described as the best hospital in the region. After retirement, she and Jim traveled in their fifth-wheel camper enjoying the beauty of America’s state and national parks as well as the lights and music of Branson. After Jim passed, Dorothy kept busy volunteering at the Good Samaritan Center for several years. Dorothy’s children and grandchildren will always fondly remember her authentic serving love, diligent work ethic, and compassionate heart. Dorothy skillfully nursed thousands of patients throughout her career as well as selflessly nursing her husband during his final illness. She sewed many garments during her lifetime, baked and decorated a multitude of cakes, and taught in Sunday School and VBS for years. Dorothy accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior and faithfully served Him throughout her life. She was a member of the Woods Memorial Christian Church in Excelsior Springs. The day before falling Dorothy enjoyed going out for a short stack of pancakes with bacon and being filmed giving her grandchildren advice on living to age 91. Her wisdom included going to church, doing one’s best, being honest with everyone, and drinking coffee–the latter said with a smile and a swallow of black with one real cream. Dorothy outlived nearly all of her friends, peers and family of origin. If God allows recognition of our loved ones when we get to Heaven then we know there was quite the crowd at the gate to celebrate with Dorothy when she arrived.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband and parents; three brothers Maurice, Cedric and Keith Farris; four sisters-in-law Ruth Blackman Farris, Jennie Munden Farris, Ruth Bratton Egbert and Betty Strathe Bratton; and brother-in-law Arthur Bratton.
She is survived by her three daughters: Elizabeth (Don) Prindle of Oak Grove, Susan (Richard) Hitchcock of Warrensburg, Janet (Steven) Bayless of Camdenton; six grandchildren Jason Prindle, Jared (Faith) Prindle, Elane (James) Ennis, Jamie Bayless, Juliana (Chris) Engelken and Thomas Hitchcock; Great-grandchildren: Annabelle and Noah Prindle, as well as two additional great grandchildren expected later this Spring. In addition, she is survived by her sister-in-law Agnes Farris Kleeb, brother-in-law Marvin Egbert, cousin Nellie Farris Swartwood, and several nieces and nephews.
Obituary submitted by family
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO 816-847-4441