Dorothy Douglas

Dorothy Elaine Douglas

March 16, 1932 ~ October 27, 2021

Dorothy Elaine Douglas has completed her earthly mission and returned home to her Heavenly Father.  Her passing was on October 27th, 2021 at 8:30 in the morning while she was sleeping. Dorothy had suffered from Arterial Fibrillation and Heart failure for many years which were contributing factors.

Dorothy was born in Woodward, Oklahoma on March 16, 1932.  Her parents were Orville A. Douglas and Rhea Jane Carson.  She had an older sister, Shirley.  Most of her growing up was in Brownsville, TX.  She would tell many stories of growing up on the border and the fun and friends she had on both sides of the border.

She married Henry E. Hieftje.  They were married for 26 yrs.  During their marriage, they adopted 4 children.  Judson Blane, Renee Melinda, Michael and Lisa, whom were brother and sister.  She devoted that part of her life to being both mother and wife.

Henry was a pilot in the Air Force and later in the airlines.  Dorothy traveled thru much of the world, visiting over 26 countries in her life time, and living in many.  She would tell stories of driving thru Europe in her “little red MG”. She went on 2 different safaris in Africa. She talked often of the animals, particularly of the elephants and the white lion cubs.

Dorothy was blessed with a desire to know God and His church.  She attended many churches in her earlier life in an effort to satisfy that desire.  That search led her to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  As a member of the Church, she served in many callings and positions, including Sunday School and Seminary teacher as well as callings in the Relief Society. She served a Temple mission to the Atlanta Georgia Temple.  It was also thru her service in the Church that she discovered her next love and mission in life, Genealogy.

Dorothy became a devoted genealogist.  Coming to this, before computers were of much use in this field, Dorothy spent hours and days traveling and studying historical records in libraries and visiting graveyards.  As the computer age was integrated into the world of genealogy, Dorothy took on the task of learning the computer and the programs.  Even into her 70’s and 80’s, Dorothy would spend hours a day researching online.  All in an effort to find and stitch families back together.  Many a family has been sealed together in the eternities thru her efforts. Dorothy’s efforts to find families and bring them together, allowed her to get to know them on a personal level.  Dorothy would tell stories about the lives of people and family members whom had passed many generations ago. She talked as if she knew them personally. While Dorothy was preceded in death by many of her family, to include a grand-daughter, Jennifer Dorothy Hieftje, there is no doubt that the reception she received on the other side of the veil was from many whom she had never met but knew well.

Dorothy was much loved and will be missed by many.  We look forward to the day when we shall meet and embrace once again.

Graveside services will be held on Monday, November 1, 2021 at 1 pm at the West Haven City Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.