Mrs. Dorothy Lee Deuter-East, 88, wife of the late Rogers Henry East and the late Harold William Deuter Sr., passed away Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Shore Health and Rehabilitation Center in Parksley. Born June 26, 1933, in Lincoln, Neb., she was the daughter of the late Agnes E. Buckholz-Hertzel and the adopted daughter of the late August Grabowski and the late Anna Grabowski Ratoike.
Raised in Beatrice, Neb., and Chicago, Dorothy graduated from Saint Casimir Academy and received her Master of Fine Arts degree from DePaul University. Dorothy taught drama and voice at Governors State University in University Park, Ill., and was an active participant and director of many church choirs, including Grace United Methodist Church in Parksley. She retired as an information systems operator in telecommunications.
Following the death of her first love, Harold, she moved to the Eastern Shore of Virginia and met Rogers. Dorothy and Rogers were married Dec. 17, 2000, and shared 20 beautiful years together. She adored her family and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy of faith, devotion, and love will be forever remembered in the hearts of those who knew her.
Dorothy leaves to cherish her memory: her children, Karen Dempsey and fiancé, Larry G. Conser, of Parksley, Lynn D. Reiss and husband, Donald, of Madison, Va., and Thomas J. Deuter and wife, Patsy, of Oak Forest, Ill.; stepdaughter, Nancy L. Morgan, and wife, Tracy Alford, of Jacksonville, N.C.; Rebecca Anderson, who was like a daughter to Dorothy; grandchildren, Harold “Will” Deuter III and wife, Erica, Karen Deuter II, Randy Reiss and wife, Shannon, Bill Reiss and wife, Arlene, Thomas A. Deuter and fiancée, Sara, Danielle Bettinardi and husband, Jon, Miranda Kraus and husband, Jamie, and Frank Deuter; great-grandchildren, Harold “Liam” IV, Chloe, Kody, Maddy, Naomi, Adrian, Jonathan, and Sophia; step-grandchildren, Paul Eric Tatem and Lindsay Clark (Allen); and many step-great-grandchildren. In addition to her husbands and parents, she was predeceased by her son, Harold W. Deuter II, and his wife, Geralline, as well as step-grandchild, Tricia Smith.
Funeral services were conducted from the chapel of the Williams-Parksley Funeral Home Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. G. Wayne Parsley officiating. Interment was in the Mount Holly Cemetery.
Contributions in Dorothy’s memory may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 156, Parksley, VA 23421, or to Riverside Shore Cancer Center, P.O. Box 430, Onancock, VA 23417.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
