Obituaries

Dorothy Maye "Dee" Beaver, 84, of Sherman, passed away on Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. A Mass of the Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2019, 10:00 AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sherman. Father Esteban Antes will celebrate the Mass. A rosary will be said on Friday, January 11, at 6:00 PM at Dannel Funeral Home with Deacon Albert Miller leading. The family will greet friends after the Rosary, from 6:30 PM until 8:00 PM. Dee will be cremated, as per her wishes, and interred at St. Mary's Cemetery at a later date.

Dee was born in Sherman, Texas on Feb 13, 1934. She participated in a dual enrollment at Sherman H.S., St. Joseph’s Academy from where she graduated as Valedictorian. and she received additional schooling at Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, Tx; State College for Women in Denton; Austin College in Sherman where she majored in Speech and Journalism. In addition to her devotion to her husband and six children, Dee was active in the Campfire Girls in TX and NJ where she served in many capacities including: Field Director, Training Leader Water Safety Director, Program Director, and Asst. Resident Camp Director. Her contributions in Campfire Girls were recognized with the Gulich Award for volunteer Leadership. In Texas, Dee was a founding member of the St. Vincent DePaul’s Society in Sherman active in the Diocese of Dallas-Fort Worth, hosted the 1st Grayson County Republican Primary, and served as a Board Member for the Callie Clinic and Grayson County Disaster Relief. In NJ, Dee donated her time to many public, private and religious community programs and organizations, including the St. Anthony’s Parish Community Affair Program, the Hightstown Girl Scout Program and as a Republican Club Member and Committee Woman in Election District# 5.

Dee worked in upwards of 30 years serving her community at the YMCA from 1969 through 2000 at the Hightstown-East Windsor Y and the YMCA of Western Monmouth County. Being a visionary, Dee saw a need for day care and proposed and developed the 1st day care program at the Monmouth Y in 1986. She added a safety Building Security Program and an Aftercare Program and Special Populations Program. In 1989, she became responsible for the Control Desk and developed the Monmouth County’s YMCA 1st formal Emergency Plan. The following year she was promoted to Department Head for Membership Services/Safety. From 1997 to 2000 she was the Human Resources/Risk Management Director.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Beaver, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. T.G. McGraw, daughter Vanessa, grandson Gaston, and two brothers, Garnet and Tim. She is survived by two sons: Jim and wife Donna Lynne , and Sam and wife Kym; three daughters: Virginia, Valerie, and Casey and husband Matt; two brothers: Frank, and Pat, 12 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Pallbearers will be Zachary Beaver, Jamey Beaver, Dakota Beaver, Jackson Beaver, Austin Beaver and Bryan Beaver.

Memorial donations may be given to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sherman and flowers may be sent to Dannel Funeral Home in Sherman.