Dorothy Jean Redding Demaree
Dorothy Jean Redding Demaree, 88, died in Lovell, Wyoming, Christmas Day, December 25, 2020 of natural causes. Dorothy was born in Hardin, Montana August 29, 1932 to Coil Austin Redding and Florence Irene Hoffman of Sarpy, Montana, the 6th of 12 children.
She attended grade-school at Wolf School in Sarpy and Hardin High School. She lived briefly in Denver with her sisters after high school and then returned to the Montana she loved and always called home.
On Aug 31, 1964, she married Norris Demaree of Billings and raised 3 children on a small ranch in Shepherd. Following retirement, they moved to Billings. Norris died in 2012. Dorothy continued to live alone and was busy with church activities at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Dorothy was known for her healthy and active life. She worked part-time at a local nursing home until age 80, she finally retired. Prior to death she moved closer to her daughter Dawn in Cowley, WY.
Dorothy loved country music. She wrote songs and played the piano, guitar and violin by ear. She is remembered for playing for dances at the old schoolhouse. Dorothy loved cattle and horses. In 1951 she was Hardin Rodeo Queen commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Custer Battlefield. Dorothy loved gardening, canning, baking, sewing, quilting, oil painting and family history. Dorothy had the greatest love for her parents, many siblings, nieces, nephews and especially her children, grand-children and great-grandchildren. But, mostly, she will always be known for her great love of her Savior Jesus Christ and her Heavenly Father.
Dorothy was preceded in death by husband, Norris Demaree; sons NJ and Jimmy, her parents Coil and Irene Redding; brothers June, Rich (Charlotte), and Donnie (Billie) Redding, and sisters Florence (Charles) Kovis, Shirley Redding, Joan (Ed) Louk , and Judy (Ronnie) Reed. Survivors include daughter Dawn (Buck) Hardwick of Cowley, Wyoming, sister Patricia (Jerold) Evanson of Sandy, UT, brother Tommy (Ginger) Redding of Fort Shaw, MT, Jerry (Sandy) of West Jordan, UT and Leonard (Nancy) of Butler, MO. Dorothy has 10 grandchildren, Bryce (Megan), Seth (Sarah), Cody, Shea, and Zane Hardwick, Hayley and Garth Demaree, Mackenzie Teichroew, Lane Demaree, and Garrin, and 3 great-grandchildren, Monty, Mackly Hardwick, and Michael Littlebear.
Funeral services at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Cowley WY, Dec 30th 11 AM, viewing at 930am and burial at Mountview Cemetery 230 pm in Billings, MT.
