Dorothy Lee Plumb Crowley was born on August 20, 1935, in Pima, AZ, to Alma and Lucille Montierth Plumb. She was born on the kitchen table, with a doctor finally called in when it was discovered she wasn't in the correct position for birth and she nearly died due to lack of oxygen. Despite the difficult start, she lived for 88 years!

Her early childhood was spent in Arizona while her father tried to make a living farming. When she was about 3 years old he obtained a civil service job in San Bernardino, CA, as a dry farm supervisor, and from that point, she lived in the Inland Empire of Southern California. She had another traumatic experience as a young girl when she got too close the backyard incinerator (everyone burned their own trash in those days), and received a 3rd degree burn on her arm and buttocks, and always carried a scar of that event. Otherwise, her childhood was a typical one for growing up during the Depression and World War II years. She remembered singing patriotic songs at school and also visiting the camp nearby where Italian POW's were being held to work in the vineyards. She loved skating, drama and dancing, and showed an early interest in arts and crafts, which was an indication of her abilities as she grew older. She had a great group of friends, and they attended both school and church together. She graduated from Chaffey High School in Ontario, CA in 1953, spent a semester at BYU, and then returned back to CA to begin work at a local bank.

Soon after, she married Jerry Terrill in 1955 in Ontario, CA. He had a good job with Kaiser Steel, and after her first child, Tracy, was born in 1956 she stayed home and did all the things that housewives did at that time: cleaning the house, tending the yard, shopping and cooking and taking care of the children. She had her second child, Sheri, in 1959, and her third child, Ronald (Tom), in 1962, all born at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana, CA.

Jerry and Dorothy were divorced in 1966, and Dorothy started working at the AAA Club in Ontario, CA, and also took in ironing and sold Avon to make ends meet. In 1968 she married Vernal Crowley, someone she had known for years from the local ward. Vernal was also divorced and had custody of his three children, Patricia, Victoria, and Ronald. They were married on April 12, 1968, in Los Angeles Temple, and within a month moved to Orem, UT with six kids, three cats, and one dog into a new house with a new job for Vern.

In 1970 Dorothy had her 4th child, Jennifer, born on December 24! Money was tight with six kids and Dorothy did what she could at home to supplement their income with making and selling items such as macrame planters and ladies' skirts. Dorothy later started working at Utah Valley Hospital as a unit secretary for a couple of years, and then worked at the ZCMI department store for several years, and she continued to make and sell craft items as well. Dorothy had always wanted to run her own business, so in 1988 she bought Stylist 1, a beauty salon in a nearby strip mall, which she owned for several years.

Dorothy was active in the PTA and served as PTA president during Jennifer's school years, both at Lakeridge Junior High and Orem High School, and she received a number of commendations for her work in those positions. Dorothy excelled in many of the home arts, including knitting, embroidery, crocheting; quilting and pillow making; sewing clothes and home items; ceramics, and decorative painting. She spent a lot of time decorating her home with things she had made, and also was happy to give some of her items to others to enjoy as well. She always had several projects underway and always was up for a new challenge.

Dorothy and Vern traveled a good deal over the years including many trips to Southern California to visit and assist family and have some fun times at the parks there. They traveled to Hawaii several times, and also took a month-long trip with friends to New Zealand and Australia.

Dorothy had many positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church, including the Relief Society Presidency and the Young Women's Organization. She was an organizer at heart, and could make any event happen anytime, anywhere! Her talents were used and appreciated by friends and family alike. She was a woman of strong faith, proud of her pioneer ancestors, and put together an album for each of her children with information about their histories.

Vern and Dorothy organized a 4th of July family reunion every year that often had over 150 attendees. This enabled them to maintain close relationships with Vern's siblings and their families. Vern and Dorothy also enjoyed close friendships with many of their ward members and participated in a Family Home Evening group for over 40 years. Rod and Pam Day, next door neighbors for 55 years, have been helping them from the very first day they moved in by providing light bulbs for the house to providing a marvelous meal for them every week for the past several years. The family wishes to express appreciation to them and all others who have taken care of Vern and Dorothy during their later years.

Several years ago, Dorothy had a severe case of sepsis that took away her balance and strength, and left her unable to walk or stand for any length of time. Vern served as her willing and loving full-time caregiver during these years, doing everything she needed to have done to make her life as comfortable as possible. He also took over all the household responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., and found out first hand how much time and effort it takes to run a household!

In these later years Dorothy continued to enjoy visits with family and friends, eating good food, watching good TV, and watching the Utah Jazz play their games!

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Alma and Lucille Plumb, her sister Marva, and her niece Julie. She was also preceded in death by her stepdaughters Patricia (Kelie) and Victoria, and her grandson Scott. She leaves behind her husband of 55 years, Vernal, her four children, Tracy (Robin), Sheri (Roger), Tom, Jennifer (Richard) her stepson Ron, (Cindy), her brother Bruce, several nieces and nephews, 18 grandchildren, and 36 great-grandchildren. Dorothy died on October 21, 2023, at home, in Orem, UT, of natural causes. A viewing will be held on Friday, October 27th from 6-8 pm and Saturday, October 28th from 9:45-10:45 am, and funeral at 11:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 545 S 800 E Orem, UT 84097.

A webcast of services will begin at 11:00 am and may be viewed at www.walkersanderson.com, found on Dorothy's obituary.