Dorothy Younger

Services are scheduled at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 8, at the Hermosa Drive Church of Christ for Mrs. Dorothy Faye Grissom Younger of Artesia, New Mexico.

Mrs. Younger, 87, died Monday, November 3, 2014 at Artesia General Hospital.

Michael Joiner will officiate in the services with burial at Twin Oaks Memorial Park. Family members will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation will be at Terpening Son Mortuary Friday beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Mrs. Younger, the daughter of James Jefferson Grissom and Myrtle Zelpha Winters Grissom was born on December 13, 1926 in Cove, Arkansas.

At a young age her family moved from Cove to Weed, New Mexico and then later to Artesia.
Dorothy was known as Dot or Dotty Faye by her family. She learned her work ethics at a very early age, by harvesting fruit or vegetables from the garden to sell to neighbors. She recounted memories of her mother who would not tell her how to spend the money she earned but instead she influence her spending by telling her about material that she had seen and how it would make a nice dress or skirt. So, she learned how to manage her own money and how to save.

In November of 1945, her senior year at Artesia High School she worked at Skinnys Drivein behind the soda fountain. It was then that she first met John Leroy Younger, who had came in to visit a friend. A few days later he returned to the Drivein and asked her on a date. After only a couple of dates he asked her to marry him. She did not give him an answer at that time. The next night she told him ok I will and he responded with will what. She said marry you. On December 29, 1945, only two weeks after their first date they eloped to Lovington, New Mexico and were married. They had three daughters Jo Ann, Marilyn and Karla.

In 1957 they purchased the Odd Shop on South 1st Street. At the time of purchase it was a curio store. Dorothy wanted to add bait and tackle to the business, because of her love of fishing. Later, they began selling campers, trailers and motor homes. In addition to doing service and repair to RVs. As the business grew another addition was made by converting a portion of the business property into an overnight RV park.

Dorothy was not afraid of hard work. She would recount many times about working for six months straight in the home and in the business from the time she woke up till she went to bed that night with no days off. She and her husband retired from business in March of 1983. In 1984 they moved to Salem, Oregon, and they lived with their daughters until 1988, when they returned to Artesia.
Dorothy and her husband, Leroy, traveled extensively during her lifetime around the United States and to Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Canada, Italy, France, Switzerland and Russia. She enjoyed fishing and spending time with her family.

She was a member of the Hermosa Drive Church of Christ and the Artesia Bulldog Sams. She was a strong and loving wife and mother. She will be missed not only by her family but also many friends and acquaintances.

Mrs. Younger was preceded in death by her Father of Artesia, NM and Mother of Lebanon, OR. Brothers: Herman Grissom of Farwell, TX and Hollis Grissom of Portales, NM and her husband Leroy of the home.

Survivors are her daughters: Jo Ann Thompson and husband Earl Ray of Aloha, OR Marilyn Jane Younger, of Hillsboro, OR, Karla Faye Rhoten of Artesia NM and granddaughter April Gaylynn Wilkinson of Potosi, MO. Brothers: Steve Grissom and wife Elizabeth of Lebanon, OR James Howard Grissom of Ada, OK Herbert Red Grissom of Lebanon, OR, Sister: Zelpha Carter of Elgin, TX Sister Inlaws: Jean Grissom of Paris, TX and Nell Younger of Irving, TX and numerous nephews and nieces.

In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the New Mexico Christian Childrens Home, 1356 New Mexico 236, Portales, NM 881309983 or to a charity of your choice

Visitation

Terpening Son Mortuary
611 W. Grand Ave.
Artesia, NM  88210
Friday, November 7, 2014
10:00 a.m.

Service

Memorial Service

Hermosa Drive Church of Christ
1302 W. Hermosa Drive
Artesia, NM  88210
Saturday, November 8, 2014
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Twin Oaks Memorial Park
59 Lake Arthur Highway
Artesia, NM  88210