Mary Elizabeth Hardy Dorton's Obituary
Mary Elizabeth Hardy Dorton, 88, passed away on Wednesday, July 17, 2025. Funeral Service will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church, located at 101 Vance St., Kannapolis NC 28081. Rev. John Futterer will be officiating. Burial will occur at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church Cemetery, located at 9400 Gold Hill Rd, Mt Pleasant, NC 28124 The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 1:30-2:45 pm.
Mary was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina and grew up on a 60-acre family farm. As a child, she immediately excelled in school with excellent grades and was very proud of achieving state honors as a 4-H Club participant. After high school, she attended Lenoir Rhyne College and earned a teacher’s degree. She taught school in the Kannapolis City School System for 31 years, mostly 4th and 5th grade children.
She preceded in death by the Reverend Richard Dorton, her husband of 25 years (1983), son Richard Dorton Jr (2022). She is survived by her daughter, Fonda D Crooker (George), and grandchildren, Matthew Crooker (Ann Marie), and Daniel Crooker.
She has always been heavily involved in Kimball Lutheran Church, singing in the choir, playing the piano, teaching bible school, and on several committees and councils. She has a huge love for travel, as she has seen a good part of the world, visiting over 21 countries. Some of her highlights have been riding Camels in Australia, and swimming with turtles in the Galapagos Islands. Her other interests include gardening, reading, the beach, and animals (especially dogs and cats).
Later in life, she loved both the staff and her friends at Spring Arbor Assisted Living Center and could be seen at almost every activity they had. She lived a wonderful, fruitful life, and was adored by many.
The Crooker family would like to thank the staff of both Spring Arbor Assisted Living Center and Tillery Compassionate Care Hospice of Albemarle for all of their support and care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church in Kannapolis or Tillery Compassionate Care of Albemarle (960 N 1st St, Albemarle, NC 28001)
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