Dotty Bent, 88

Dorotha Louise (Dotty Lou) Bent passed away on July 23, 2016 At Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo Michigan. Dotty was born on December 6, 1927 in Point Marion, Pennsylvania to Howard L. Cree and Lillian M (Downey) Cree. She spent most of her childhood in Melvindale, Michigan and graduated from Howell High School in 1945 . She attended Western Michigan University. In Marcellus, she met the love of her life, Freeland Wade Bent. They were married on June 17, 1949 in the United Methodist Church in Marcellus, Michigan. They made their home at Cedar Lake in Marcellus, where Dotty lived for over 60 years. Dotty worked with her father and husband running Cree Coaches and retired in 1982. She was Past Matron and life member of Ideal Chapter # 167 of The Eastern Star in Marcellus. She enjoyed travel, especially to Mexico, spending time with her family, crafting and baking.

Dotty is survived by her children Valeri A. Bent of Marcellus, Wade L Bent (Mary T Weertz) of Marcellus and their children, Hannah W Bent and Jacob W Bent, her sisters Lois Ann Walterhouse of Kalamazoo, and Susan J Cree of Asheville, NC, and nieces and nephews Kristine A Walterhouse of Apollo, Pennsylvania, Gretchen W Rafferty (Patrick) of Kalamazoo, Gregg R Walterhouse (Elizabeth) of Waterford, Michigan, Brett J Gearhart of Charleston, South Carolina, Sean P Gearhart (Kimberley) of Columbia, South Carolina and Elizabeth M Gearhart of Charleston as well as loved great-nieces and nephews.
Family will receive visitors from 5 to 8 PM Monday, July 25th , 2016 at the Mater-Ralston Funeral Home in Marcellus. A graveside service will be held at 11am Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at the Marcellus Bly Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.
Online condolences may be left at www.materralstonfuneralhome.com