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Dorothy A. Edwardson, the only child of Joe and Annie (Langer) Jansa was born October 2, 1923, in the Czechoslovakian village of Ennis, Texas.
As young girl she enjoyed dancing the polka, playing scrabble, dominoes, and bingo, collecting coins, traveling, singing, reading, feeding the ducks and playing the piano. She continued to enjoy these activities throughout her life. She attended the Ennis Public schools graduating from EHS in 1941, one week after her mother's death. Ready to begin a life of her own, she moved to Fort Worth where she would enter vocational school focusing on a career as a nurse. Little did she know that in December of 1941, during her training, that Pearl Harbor would be attacked, and by 1942 WWII would begin.
Dorothy continued to pursue her nurse training until the calling to do her civil duty as one of the infamous women known as "Rosie the Riveter." By 1945, Dorothy and Papa Joe both enlisted in the Army branch of the military. Dorothy joined the Army Medical Corps serving as a nurse at the Post Hospital at Camp Edwards and Fort Devens in Boston, Massachusetts. It was here that Nurse Jansa would meet, provide nursing, and fall in love with one of the multitude of soldiers that she took care of during the latter part of WWII. His name was Norman Jay Gorton. On May 11, 1946, in the Army hospital Chapel, in Boston, they were married. The remainder of 46 was spent at William Beaumont General Hospital in El Paso, Texas.
By December 1946 the two were both honorably discharged from the Army to begin civilian life as Mr. and Mrs. Gorton. In 1947 the Gorton's would move to Dorothy's home town of Ennis, where they would build their home, a garden, fruit trees ... and a family. Papa Joe had remarried, and Dorothy would not only meet her stepmother Mary Belle (Emerson) Jansa, but also her half-brother, Jerry Wayne. Early 1948, Mrs. Gorton became pregnant with their first child, a son, Roger Alan. He was born October 25, 1948. Two daughters would follow: Sharon Elaine on January 13, 1952, and Gayle Joanne on February 18, 1953.
Somewhere in the 60s Dorothy decided to complete unfinished business and began reading every book she could to earn her Licensed Practical Nurse certification, which she did with the highest score on the test in her class of potential nurses in the state of Texas. She worked at the Ennis Municipal Hospital and loved what she did. When not working, she and Norman enjoyed dancing Polka in the Halls of Ennis, tending to the garden, and fruit trees, and traveling with their children. The Gorton family visited all but 2 states, Alaska and Hawaii, as the children were growing up; what a way to learn about the United States and all its wonders!
It was 1967 when the Gorton family moved to Springdale, Arkansas, Roger would enter the Army Medical Corps and the two daughters would continue high school and graduate from Springdale High by 70 and 71. Dorothy was hired as an LPN at the Northwest Veterans Hospital in Fayetteville where she continued until 1975 due to physical strain. During the period between 1969 and 1975 Dorothy's stepmom, Mary Belle, would pass and all three children would marry and Sharon and Roger would give their parents, their first and second grandchildren.
Thereafter, Norman and Dorothy did some traveling, giving Dorothy a chance to go polka dancing again. Then there were times Norman and Dorothy would just sit back and watch TV. It was during exam week prior to Sharon's graduation at the University of Arkansas her dad, Norman Jay, Dorothy's first husband, of thirty-three years, would pass on June 19, 1979. The thought of being alone inspired her to re-marry, which she did on September 15 of the same year to another veteran, another Norman, Norman J. Edwardson, of Minnesota. They too enjoyed traveling and dancing the polka earning them awards at the festivals. The two of them also enjoyed playing cards, but bridge was the activity that her second husband introduced to her. Norman J. and Dorothy were organizers of the Springdale area bridge tournaments. They became such good bridge players that they were honored as International Bridge Masters by the Bridge League.
In 1987, the third grandchild would be born to Gary and Sharon (Gorton) Kowalski. In that same year Sharon and the third grandchild, which would be Papa Joe's great grandchild had Thanksgiving dinner together at a truck stop with Papa Joe. On December 28th Papa Joe Jansa died and was buried in Ennis.
Then in September of 1998, Dorothy lost her son, Roger, but as the saying goes, "life goes on" and at Thanksgiving 2003 the Edwardsons would travel to visit their first-born grandson and his entire family, which was one of the highlights in their lives. Early 2007, Dorothy and Norman would move into Windcrest Retirement Center in Springdale. As with the first Norman, Dorothy stayed with her man, for almost thirty years until death did they part. Often referred to as Pepa by the youngest grandchild, Norman J. Edwardson's life would end March 29, 2009.
Although Dorothy was privileged in the summer of 2009 to receive the status of a World War II Honoree of the United States Army Branch by the World War II Museum, she was feeling lonely in Springdale. Dorothy was encouraged by her daughter, Sharon, and her family to move to Enid, Oklahoma, where she would live in a castle. That castle was Golden Oaks. Mema, as she was called by the third grandchild, lived there from June 2010 through April 2021. During those eleven years she organized card games and tried teaching bridge. She was always known to be smiling and enjoyed helping other people. In 2020, she was given the Woodring Wall of Honor's Legacy Veteran of the Year award.
She still enjoyed going for rides and, playing Scrabble with her daughter, feeding the ducks, taking walks, and visiting the Kowalskis, especially Charlie, who gave her great dog hugs. She also enjoyed visiting with her first grandchild and his family whenever it was possible. As everyone knows, 2020 brought about the COVID virus. Experiencing the quarantine lock ups and its requirements caused for such despair that it affected Dorothy's wellbeing, even though she never contracted the virus. In May 2021 Dorothy was moved to Greenbrier Village, the move was a bigger change than expected and took a toll on her. Her mobility was becoming limited and the wear and tear of almost ten decades of life had weakened her ability to remember the little things that seemed so important throughout her life, and simple tasks had become too difficult to do. Dorothy had come to terms that she wanted to "go home." But before doing so she would, with Sharon's assistance, play bingo for the last time and won three times. Two days later, COVID restrictions were back once again forcing patients to be isolated from their loved ones. One week passed with only phone conversations connecting Dorothy with the Kowalski family. And on Wednesday August 11, 2021, she was rushed to St. Mary's Hospital and diagnosed with complications from pneumonia that had spread into her bloodstream and was causing her body to shut down. And so, with family members surrounding her and with hugs and kisses given, as promised, she took her last breath and closed her big brown eyes. Led by her first grandson, a prayer was given over her body: "May the Lord bless you and keep you and give you peace." This 97-year-old mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother missed her 98th birthday by 53 days. She will certainly be missed.
Dorothy's surviving family members would like to thank all of the hospitals, retirement/nursing homes, and dental, vision, and hearing institutes who always tried to make life a little better for that "Sweet Lil Spitfire" Dorothy Ann Jansa Gorton Edwardson.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the following organizations to honor her: Northshore Animal League of America, Oklahoma Food Bank, SPJST, World War II Museum and/or the Disabled American Veterans, with Brown-Cummings Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.
At the request of Dorothy her body was donated to Genesis Legacy Whole Body Research Foundation, in Memphis, Tennessee, with no intentions of a funeral or service. When her ashes return after research is completed the family members will gather at that time to celebrate the life of a woman known as, Dorothy Ann, Dot, Mother, Mom, Mema, Ms. Dorothy, Nurse Jansa, Mrs. Gorton, Mrs. Edwardson, and "Sweet Lil Spitfire."
Dorothy Ann Jansa Gorton Edwardson is survived by her older daughter, Sharon Kowalski and husband Gary, of Enid, her younger daughter, Gayle Snider and husband Joe, of Springdale, Arkansas; her half-brother, Jerry Jansa and wife Carolyn, of Dimmitt, Texas; and her grandchildren, Brad Johnson and wife Kelly, of Piedmont, Terrence Gorton, of Houston, Texas, and Jayson Kowalski, of Enid; great-grandchildren: Andrew, Grant, and Katelyn Johnson, of Piedmont and, Parker and Liv Johnson, of Abilene, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Roger Gorton, and her two Normans.
Condolences and special memories may be shared with the family online at www.Brown-Cummings.com.
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