Obituary of Dorothy Lee Richards

Dorothy Lee (Morse) Richards was born May 15, 1929 in Tulsa, OK, the older of two daughters of Raymond Lee and Florence (McDougell) Morse. She was raised in the western part of the city and attended and graduated from Webster High School. After graduation she worked briefly as a waitress and met and married. The marriage didn't last long, but long enough for Michael Ray Richards to be born. Finding herself single again she knew that she couldn't raise and care for herself and her son working as a waitress. Fortunately her father worked for at the airport and helped her find work at American Airlines--a great job for anyone, but a huge blessing for a single mother. 'Dottie' worked as a secretarial clerk, she could make a typewriter do magical things, but computers made her do 'other' things. Again, fortunately she retired as everything and everyone converted to computers--except Dottie. After 33 years, from the late 1950s to the early 1990s she was the model employee. Retirement provided Dottie with the opportunities to do the things she had long loved to do. She loved to dance, especially line-dancing. She danced as often as she could, usually teaching others the moves she loved. Music was in her blood and she both showed it and shared it. In younger days it was 'sock hops' and poodle skirts, she outlived several 'crazes', and always came out on top. Quieter moments would find her soaking her feet in the swimming pool, but when a holiday came around, look out. She loved to dress up for Halloween and make the rounds. She made every holiday special. She made everything special and always added her own touch. One of her favorite sayings was, "You have to have it before you can show it." A saying she backed up by still wearing a bikini at 72 years old. Not surprising to anyone who knew her, and not unreasonable for someone who "Had it". She loved her roses and she loved her cats. At last count she had 462 cats, made from everything except meat and fur. She preferred ceramic, plastic, and artificial cats--no cleaning up, feeding, or worries. Late in life she began to struggle with dementia, but what took the wind out of her sails was the death of her son about five years ago. She passed quietly away on June 5, 2022, at the age of 93. She was preceded in death by her: Parents, Raymond and Florence Morse; Son, Michael Ray Richards; Sister, Marjorie Creath; and Great-Granddaughter Brittney Nicole Campbell. She is survived by her: Daughter-in-law Carolyn Richards; Grandchildren Erin Peebles, Michael Richards, Michelle Rodriquez, Scotty Richards, and Dorothy Richards; Great-Grandchildren, Breanna Richards, Bradley Richards, Angel Carrera, Jr. , Dillon Rodriquez, Tyler Rodriquez, Michael Richards Jr., Matthew Richards, Makayla Richards, and Amber Dean; and Great, Great Grandchildren, Zoey Richardson, Presley Richardson, and James Richardson. Dorothy will lie in state Thursday, June 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m. and her funeral will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 10 both at the Ninde Brookside Funeral Home and Chapel. She will be laid to rest at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens. Ninde Brookside, 918-742-5556, www.ninde.com