Dorothy May Mitchell, 82, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, passed away peacefully in her sleep while in the combined care of Ivy Court and Hospice of North Idaho on March 31, 2014, after a long battle with multiple health issues.

Dorothy, or “Dot” as she was sometimes called by friends, was born in Greeley, Colo., on May 26, 1931, to John and Bertha Weiss. She grew up in a career Navy family atmosphere, and at 18 married a young Navy man with whom she spent the rest of her life being a wonderful wife and mother to two rambunctious sons while her husband, Burl, was deployed for months at a time. Dorothy always coaxed her boys to do more than just get by in life, and to be strong. She skillfully set up new homes, sometimes almost entirely by herself, wherever the Navy sent them, sometimes 18 times, taking her on many adventures up and down both coasts and to Hawaii.

After retiring from the Navy, Dorothy and Burl roamed the country for two years with a travel trailer in tow, before settling down to build a home in Coeur d’Alene. Though they settled in Coeur d’Alene, the urge to travel never left them and they took multiple summer trips to Alaska, again with travel trailer in tow, to visit their son Robert, sight see and fish as they wandered around Alaska.

Dorothy always took pride in her home, and enjoyed cooking and trying out new recipes on her family. She also enjoyed fishing, gardening (having many flowers growing around the place), creating beautiful needle point portraits, landscape scenes, or wild animals and birds. But above all else, Dorothy loved and cherished her family and friends.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, Burl; sons: Larry (Marcia) and Robert (Tammie); three granddaughters: Caitlin, Megan and Shannon; and grandson, Dustin.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Monday, April 7, at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene. Chapel viewing will be noon to 1 p.m., prior to the services, and burial will follow the services at Riverview Cemetery. Please visit Dot's online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.