Dorothy Gumm a longtime resident of Durant, Oklahoma passed from this life on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at the age of 93. Dorothy Geraldine McKinney was born in Delight, Arkansas on February 6, 1919. In 1936, after graduating from high school, she moved to Durant. She was seventeen years old when she walked into Sandefur’s Jewelry and applied for a job. There, not only did she find a job that would become her life profession, but a tall, handsome man who would become her life partner. Jack and Dorothy were married on September 11, 1942 and dreamed of one day reopening Gumm’s Jewelry, originally established by Jack’s father and two brothers in Durant Indian Territory in 1896. After World War II, their dream became a reality. Gumm’s Jewelry was reopened and remained a well known fixture in Durant until its sale in 1987. By that time, Dorothy and Jack had worked together side by side in the jewelry business for more than fifty years. Dorothy was active in the First Methodist Church, served on several church boards, was a member of the Ester Circle and the Fedelis Sunday School Class; she was a member and past president of the DJ Chapter of PEO and a member and former officer of the Fortnightly Club; she volunteered as a Pink Lady at Southeastern Oklahoma Medical Center and was actively involved in the Durant community; she received a Citation of Congratulations from the Oklahoma State Legislature on her 80th birthday and was honored in 2005 as a Magnolia Festival Honor Attendant.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; mother and father, Ada and Omar McKinney; brother, Brock McKinney; sister Norene McKinney; sister and brother in law, Mildred and Penn Butcher; sister in law, Martha Baxley McKinney; niece Reba Webster and nephew Bill Falkenstein.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathe Gumm; brother Charles McKinney and sister in law, Odessa McKinney. Dorothy’s nieces, nephews and their families include Carol, Alan, Bryan and Lynsey Smith; Nelson, Gail, Kristin and Rylea McKinney and Anna and Wade Reinhardt; Hank, Mandee, Aaron and Chloe McKinney;Brock, Wendi and Ada McKinney; Sara Beth, Paul and Emma Block; Brad, Tina and Hannah Webster; Tracey, Rob, Nick and Steph Sickmen and Rachel, Winnie, Miles and Levi Dawson; Lou, Matt, Teresa, Miles and Zoe Falkenstein and Leigh, Steve, Maddie and Jack Meigs; Mack and Stevie McElreath, Linda and David Westfall, Leigh Anne and John Burkhalter, Megan, Saul, Tucker and Kesleigh Melendez.
Family Hour will be from 7:00~8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, December 28, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Durant, Oklahoma with Rev. Dewey Shaffer and Dr. John Breon officiating. Interment will follow at the Highland Cemetery. Nelson, Hank, Aaron and Brock McKinney, Mack McElreath and Alan Smith will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Farrell Hatch, Howard Frasier, Dub Manahan, Dr. Bob Bruton, Joe Barker and Jay Paul Gumm.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest that donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church 218 N. 3rd, Durant, Oklahoma 74701 or a charity of your choice.
Family and friends may send online condolences and view tributes at www.holmescoffeymurray.com.
Services are under the direction of Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home, Durant, Oklahoma.
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