Dorothy Lee (Gregory) Lucas

“Like a star that is gone when the daylight is given, she has

faded away to shine brightly in Heaven.” ~ Unknown

 

On June 26, 2020, our precious Dorothy Lee Gregory Lucas (Sweet

Dot) of Beckley transitioned from this life into a life of

eternal joy.  She is no longer sad or suffering.

 

Dorothy was born on February 13, 1933, at Glen Morgan, West

Virginia, to Henry Walker Gregory and Mildred Louise Ault

Gregory.  She was a lifelong resident of Beckley.

 

Preceding her in death were her parents; a son, Robert Walker

Lucas; grandson, David Graham Lucas; sister, Cornelia Mae  Reed;

brother, Frank Richard Gregory; special niece, Lillian Ruth

Shalala, and special nephew, Robert J. Reed; and former spouse

and father of her children, Howard R. Lucas, Sr.

 

Dorothy attended Woodrow Wilson High School where she graduated

in the Class of ‘51.  She thoroughly enjoyed the many class

reunions she would attend in the years that followed.

 

She was an employee of Beckley Newspapers for 36-plus years,

starting as a proofreader and later becoming a compositor,

newsroom obituary writer and retiring as the librarian.  She was

extremely proud of her work as the librarian and after retirement

still received accolades from her previous co-workers for her

meticulous work in the newspaper library.

 

Following her retirement, she volunteered at the Beckley VA

Medical Center and also served as a tour guide at Wildwood House

Museum.  She immensely enjoyed traveling with Phyllis, Ruth and

Bob to many destinations, her favorite being Santa Fe, New

Mexico.  However, she insisted that everyone should travel to see

Las Vegas and New Orleans.

 

Until the time of her death, Dorothy was the longest surviving

member of Jones Memorial Baptist Church where she faithfully

attended services.  Her ministry was that she remembered so many

by sending cards with the sweetest handwritten notes.  She lived

her life daily clothed in the tenets of Faith, Hope and Love.

 

She is survived by her children, Carolyn R. DiLorenzo and

husband, John, of Beckley; and Howard R. Lucas, Jr., and wife,

Sharon, of Lillington, North Carolina.  Also surviving are

grandchildren, Rebecca Ann Bailey and companion, Matthew Stanley;

Jennifer Lee Escobedo and husband, José Escobedo-Martinez; Frank

Gregory Lacek and companion, Tiffany Bailey; Meredith Renee Kerr;

great-grandchildren, Ashley Rebecca Bailey and fiancé, Brandon

McGrady; Nickolas Enrique Manuel Escobedo; Brady Gregory Robert

Lacek; Dylan Gregory Stanley; Cameron Reece Robinson; and Raegan

Cali Kerr; very special niece, Phyllis Carolyn Williams; several

cousins, great- and great-great-nieces and nephews, and many,

many friends.

 

Dorothy loved working in flowers and was so proud of her

beautiful flower gardens.  She loved reading, the study of words,

and enjoyed daily crossword puzzles.  Her admiration and love of

foreign languages kept her always attempting to learn words in

French, Spanish and Italian, even until the last few weeks of her

passing.  She made beautiful crocheted items, teaching her

daughter, granddaughters and great-granddaughter this talent.

 

Dorothy’s legacy will always be her love of family which was the

cornerstone of her life.  There  was nothing more important than

time spent with her loved ones.  Her absence at family gatherings

will leave a painful void  for those who are left behind.

 

In the last few years, Dorothy became ill and reflected on her

life many times.  One of the most recent was reflecting on what

she would do if she could live her life over:  “I would be an

artist and paint beautiful flowers and I would speak a foreign

language fluently.”  Her family takes comfort that today Dorothy

is painting beautiful pictures of flowers from her Heavenly

flower gardens, speaking French, Spanish and Italian, and walking

with joy among those who have gone before.

 

A private family visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 30,

followed by a public visitation from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Melton

Mortuary.  A private family graveside rite will be held on a

later date at her beloved Wildwood Cemetery.

 

Those given the honor of  escorting her to her final resting

place are her special and longtime friend, Bruce Blankenship;

John DiLorenzo; José Escobedo-Martinez; and Frank Gregory Lacek.

Honorary pallbearers will be her great-grandsons, Nickolas

Escobedo; Brady Lacek; Dylan Stanley; and Cameron Robinson.

 

Dorothy had an abounding love for God’s creatures, especially

dogs and birds.  It was her wish that following her death

donations of sympathy be made in her name to the Raleigh County

Humane Society.

 

The family would like to thank the staff at Harper Mills for

their care during her nine-month stay and especially to the

wonderful aides and nurses from Hospice of Southern West Virginia

for their compassionate and excellent care provided in her home

for the last three months.

 

Following current protocols for COVID-19, social distancing

during the visitation will be required.  The wearing of masks

is highly recommended but will not be required.

 

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not

be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

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