Dorothy Rae Waterbury

WATERBURY, Dorothy Rae Johnson 6/14/1913 - 4/13/2015 Born 6/4/1913 to Leona Findley and Jeff Johnson in San Luis Obispo, Dorothy was a third generation Californian and very proud of her pioneer heritage. She did extensive genealogical research and shared many stories with her family of her grandparents' arrival by covered wagon in 1849. After completing nursing school in Santa Barbara she returned to San Luis Obispo where she met her husband, James A. Waterbury while she was caring for his ill father. After early years in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, Jim and Dorothy moved to Sacramento where they raised their family of 6 children. Dorothy was active in PTA and Mother's Club president at Christian Brothers High School and pursued a career in school nursing, getting both her bachelors and masters degrees before any of her children did so. Dorothy/Dot and Jim always welcomed family, friends as well as friends of their children at memorable waffle breakfasts and backyard parties. She and Jim established friendships with families in both Mexico and Colombia that created a multigenerational extended family that continues to this day. Her radiant smile and abundant energy and determination touched many lives. She was preceded in death by her husband Jim, son-in-law Michael Murphy and grandchildren Mary and Brett Waterbury. Dorothy is survived by children Jay (Suzie), Marie Lawson (Jim), Chet (Marilyn), Thad (Kathe), Earl (Linda) and Joan Murphy as well as 19 surviving grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. There will be mass at 10:00 AM Monday 4/20/15 at Mission San Luis followed by internment at 12 PM at San Luis Cemetery in San Luis Obispo beside her pioneering grandparents. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.