Dormalie Lea, nee Bowers, age 93 years, 1 month and 17 days, passed away Thursday morning, November 11, 2021 in her home surrounded by her family. She was born September 25, 1928 at Howes Mill, Missouri to Otis Wilbur Bowers and Lucy Caroline Wyman Bowers. She grew up for a few years in Dent County and eventually her family moved to Crawford County where she continued to live the rest of her life.
In her younger years, the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, Dormalie became a teacher after graduating from high school where she taught in a couple of rural areas, Lookout School and Keysville School. In December 21st of 1947, Dormalie was united in marriage to Vernon “Bill” Albert Lea and to this union three sons and three daughters were born.
For eight years, Dormalie ran the State License Bureau and later worked as the Associate Circuit Clerk at the Crawford County Courthouse, retiring in 1988. She enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved having tea parties with her fancy teacups, which all of them loved also. Dormalie was very proud of her family and loved taking pictures. She was very meticulous in making sure she had all of the photo books identified with names and dates. Years ago, she learned to embroidery and crochet along with making clothes for all of her girls. Dormalie also enjoyed being outside whether feeding the birds during the winter or taking long walks up until her health declined.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Otis and Lucy Bowers; her husband, Bill Lea; brother, Irvine Bowers; sister, Mary West; granddaughter, Angela Kay Lea; great-grandson, David Lea; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Pete and Bonnie Lea, Bud and Dottie Lea, Hack and Verniece Lea, Matred and L.H. Kehner and Charles Counts and Richard Mager.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her six children, Billy (Carol) Lea, Karen Calkins, Joe (Fannie) Lea, Susie (Jimmy) Harmon, Mary Ellen Lea and John Lea; fourteen grandchildren, Meredith Lea, Ross (Jessica) Lea, Michael (Briana) Calkins, Mark (Vada) Calkins, Becky (Jerry) Richardson, Lea Adam Calkins, Alysia (Ben) Cohen, A.J. Lea, Hannah (Caleb) Farmer, Lance (Shannon) Harmon, Lucas (Kaitlin) Harmon, Brandy Lea, Brittany Lea and Megan Lea; nineteen great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Imogene Bowers and Shirley Mager; other relatives; and many friends.
There was a Private Family Graveside Service on Sunday, November 14, 2021 with Rev. Jerry Beers officiating. Special music of "I'll Fly Away" was sung and played on guitar by Rev. Jerry Beers.
Committal prayer and interment were in the Steelville Cemetery.
Honored to be casket bearers were Ross Lea, AJ Lea, Clayton Lea, Lance Harmon, Lucas Harmon, Michael Calkins and Lea Adam Calkins.
Memorials may be given in Dormalie's name to the Steelville Food Pantry.
The Lea Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, MO.
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