Dorothy Gittings

Dorothy Loretta Morris Gittings Dorothy was born on June 28, 1914 in Baltimore, Maryland. Her mother Irene died when Dorothy was 6 years old and she was raised by her grandparents Henry and Hilda Johannes. She grew up in Baltimore, Blacksburg, Virginia, and Rockville, Maryland where she graduated from Richard Montgomery High School in the Class of 1931. Her family moved to Washington, D.C. after graduation where she met and married Sidney Morris. Her son Robert was born in 1933. When he started to school Dorothy went to work at the news stand of the Roosevelt Hotel, home the Redskins and the Victory Room where all the famous big bands played. During WWII she joined the Federal government at the Office of Civilian Defense. After the war she served in the White House during the Truman administration, in the Office of the Secretary to the President. She received many accolades for her work, which included reading, sorting, and answering the President Truman's mail. In 1953 she started a new life, moving to Southern California and marrying James Gittings. A long happy and serene life followed in Pasadena. She thrived helping her new daughter-in-law Frances adjust to married life and then the raising of her three grandchildren; Linda Lee, Robert Michael, and Tina Lynn. She was so pleased to see them grow, mature, marry, and start their own families. After James passed away, she moved to Houston, Texas in 1985. She loved to take long morning walks usually passing through the grounds at Vargo's to watch the peacocks strut. In 1998 she moved to Montgomery to live on Lake Conroe with Bob and Fran. The lake provided a perfect place for her love of nature, where she could watch the pelicans and herons, read her novels, and watch the soaps. For 95 years she never missed anyone's birthday or special holiday. Now she leaves us with wonderful memories and all her love. Her nurse said it perfectly, "She is sweeter than a Lullaby". She is survived by son Robert Morris and wife Frances; grandchildren Linda and husband Robert Edwards, Michael and wife Rhonda, and Tina and husband Dustin Cox; great grandchildren Jeremy Parish, Sean Parish and wife Suzanna, Curtis Morris, Heather Brown, Casey Carter, and Casey Cox; and great great grandchildren Mason Parish, Brendan Parish, and Sean William Parish. A Memorial Service in her honor will be held Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 11 AM in the Chapel at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home in Willis. You are invited to leave a written condolence to the family on our website at www.shmfh.com.

Dorothy Gittings

June 28, 1914 - August 15, 2009