Charlotte Ann Cole lit a candle in memory of Dora Lee Butler

Enchanted Cottage was purchased for the family of Dora Lee Butler.

Ms. Dora was so much more to me than the neighbor across the street or my mom's good friend. She was a talented, creative, smart, funny "aunt" to me. When I was in the 9th grade I could not attend school for some time due to an illness. This presented some challenges as I was not exactly an honor roll student. As if I'd won a prize for being sick, I was told Ms. Dora would be my homeschool teacher. Under her instruction, and because she was the one reporting my scores to the district, I received exemplary grades- even in math! I'm convinced that she's the reason I passed that year. If only we could have kept that arrangement... I may have been valedictorian. She once made some last minute, homemade, face paint concoction in her kitchen. She painted me into the coolest, spookiest ghoul and I won the costume contest at the church party. It seemed there was nothing she couldn't do. In the Butler's home, Ms. Dora had an amazing "secret" room, off the kitchen, all to herself. It was big enough to hold all of her good stuff- sewing stuff, ceramics stuff, paints, and an assortment of arts and crafts supplies. She even had enough room to work in there while honing her creative skills. Looking back now, I think it was her hiding spot to escape Mr. Bud and the kids! Even though she was with kids all day at school, and had Kent and Sarah at home, plus many nieces and nephews, she always had time for me too. I am very grateful to have had her in my life. I love her and will cherish the memories I have of her. In my mind she will always be that spirited, imaginative, kind lady that I miss.

Aunt Dora was the second to the youngest of five girl one being my Mother. She was a teacher, she was funny! She had pet raccoons in her backyard and she perfected “quitcherbitching!” I loved her so much! Mom would ship us off to Port Arthur where we would be shuttled around to Dora, Nessie and Grandma’s houses for a couple of weeks during the summer. Dora took us crabbing, to the movies where she introduced us to “Grease! Dora was loved by so many and we miss her deeply.

Marianne Mulloy Durham lit a candle in memory of Dora Lee Butler