Dorothy M. Johnston

Dorothy Esther Mather Bowen Johnston Dorothy M. Johnston, 91, died December 28, 2014 at Lemay Avenue Health and Rehabilitation, in Fort Collins, Colorado. Dorothy was born to Esther and Hilery E. Mather in Saint George, Kansas, November 4, 1923. Dorothy graduated from Springfield (Colorado) High School in 1941. She attended one year at University of Colorado at Boulder, then spent two years at the FBI in Washington, DC. In 1946 Dorothy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Art at Texas Technological College in Lubbock, Texas. Dorothy married Ray Bowen of Springfield, Colorado in 1946. No children were born to this union. Dorothy worked for Buckner Advertising Agency in Lubbock from 1946 to 1960. In 1960, a client of Buckner’s, Piggly Wiggly, lured Dorothy to Grand Prairie to become Advertising/Art Director for Shop Rite Foods. In 1973, Dorothy began teaching at Texas State Technical Institute in Waco, Texas. In Waco, Dorothy met and married Lieutenant Colonel Blake Johnston, Retired Air Force. Dorothy enjoyed Blake’s children and grandchildren. Blake died in 1993. While at TSTI, Dorothy taught classes in Watercolor Painting, Lettering and Calligraphy, Drawing, Art for Reproduction, Newspaper Advertising, Typography, Graphic Design, and Career preparation for Artists. Dorothy retired from TSTI in 1990. In retirement Dorothy taught many art classes for Baylor University’s Continuing Education, and the Art Center of Waco. She enjoyed her affiliation with various watercolor groups such as Central Texas Watercolor Society, The Waco Art Center, Southwestern Watercolor Society, Southern Watercolor Society, and Southern Colorado Watercolor Society. Dorothy was past President of Lubbock Chapter Theta Sigma Phi, Past-president United Way of Lubbock, and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Dorothy won many awards for her paintings. Dorothy sold her paintings through her website www.dorothyjohnston.com, by hanging her work in art shows and galleries around Central Texas, and by selling note cards of her paintings. Dorothy was commissioned to paint many pieces and was often asked to present workshops or demonstrations for various art groups. Dorothy traveled to paint in Spain, France, Bermuda, St Maartins, Colorado plus many parts of Texas. Dorothy was generous with her art work, sharing her paintings with friends and family. In 2008, Dorothy moved to Water Valley Good Samaritan Resort Senior Center in Windsor, Colorado, to be closer to family. Many of Dorothy’s paintings hung in their hallways. Dorothy enjoyed three and one-half years there. Declining health required that Dorothy move: first to Bright Assisted-Living, then to Lemay Avenue Health and Rehab. Dorothy is preceded in death by her sister, Geraldine Mather, husband, Blake Johnston, her sister-in-law, Dona Mather, brother-in-law, Daryl Walker, former husband, Ray Bowen, and her close friend, Lawrence Lykins of Waco. She is survived by her sister, Mildred Walker of Walsh, Colorado; brother, Hilery Mather, Jr. of Dallas, Texas; ten nieces and nephews, Barbara Hyink, Penny Lucas, Sandra Haman of Colorado, Hal Walker of Nebraska, Jack Walker and Wade Walker of Colorado, Tracy McIver of San Angelo, Texas, Ainslie Mather of Dallas, Texas, Bonnie Kathleen Johnson of Forney, Texas, and Michael J. O’Connor of Plano, Texas; plus step-children Susan Wilson of Vancouver, Washington and Stephen Johnston of Pampa, Texas and many other family members and friends. A Celebration of Dorothy’s Life will be held February 14, at 10:00 a.m. at the Walsh Methodist Church, Walsh, Colorado.

Tributes

Dorothy M. Johnston

November 4, 1923 - December 28, 2014