Dorothy Marie (Watson) Weaver, 101, of Clare, Illinois, passed away at Liberty Village of Rochelle on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, while surrounded by family.

Dorothy was born February 8, 1922, at home in Kirkland, Illinois to Clyde Everett and Alta Mae Blanch (Montgomery) Watson, the second of four children.

Dorothy married Clarence Edward "Ed" Weaver on March 25, 1939, in Clinton, Iowa, then settled in South Grove Township to farm and raise their children.

Dorothy graduated from Kirkland High School in 1938 and met her soon-to-be husband Ed at a Malta town dance in 1938. Dorothy could always be found at the family farm working alongside Ed and her children, managing and participating in day-to-day crop and livestock production including hauling and drying corn and raising cattle, or on the telephone talking to another farmer. Anyone stopping by knew that Dorothy would welcome you to her kitchen table for spirited conversation and a homecooked meal. Dorothy was a lifelong member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Malta Township (a part of Malta United Methodist Church since the late 1960s), the Ladies Home Bureau, and the DeKalb County Farm Bureau.

Dorothy is survived by three of her five children: Sandra Stoddard of Kirkland; Sherry (Richard) Heimerdinger of Pinehurst, North Carolina; David (Jayne) Weaver of Lincoln, Illinois; and daughter-in-law Connie (Donald, deceased son ) Weaver of Clare. Her grandchildren include: Catherine Stoddard, Linda (Dan) Roushia, Scott Heimerdinger, Christine (Deron, deceased ) Heimerdinger, Laura (Arthur) Weaver Whaley, Kimberly (Wahbeh) Tawil, Eric (Krista) Weaver, Sean Weaver; great-grandchildren: Kaelin (Jeff Cox) Lapp, Ian (Emily) Mills, Clarissa Worcester, Kathryn and Madelyn Heimerdinger, Kauthar, Laylah, Qausem and Ali Tawil, Everly and Charlotte Weaver; great-great grandchild Owen Mills; and siblings Wilbur (Joyce, deceased ) Watson and Betty Jo (Joe, deceased ) Johnson. Additionally, she has many nieces, nephews, and cousins, including a long-time hired hand and friend Carl "Doty-kid" Brantley.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 57 years, Ed Weaver; infant daughter, Connie Lou; son Donald Weaver; grandson Deron Heimerdinger; and sister, Mildred (Stanley) Smith.

The funeral service will be at the Malta United Methodist Church, 310 S. Second Street, Malta at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 16, with Reverend Jeremiah Thompson officiating. Burial will follow at the Malta Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 15 at Butala Funeral Home, 1405 DeKalb Avenue, Sycamore.

The family extends its heartfelt thanks to the staff of Liberty Village of Rochelle and Unity Hospice and Palliative Care for their exceptional care during Dorothy's final months.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Sycamore High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter or the Malta Volunteer Fire & Rescue, in care of Butala Funeral Homes 1405 DeKalb Avenue, Sycamore, IL 60178.

To sign the online guest book, go to www.butalafuneralhomes.com