Dorothy M. (McGeorge) Staveley

Dorothy Mae Staveley, age 96, of St. Louis Park, MN (formerly of Columbus, OH) passed away on July 25, 2023 of natural causes.

Dorothy was born in Stonebluff, Oklahoma on July 28, 1926 to Roy and Anna McGeorge. She was the youngest of three. Dorothy studied journalism at Kansas State University. After graduation, she worked in reparations at General MacArthur’s headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. There she met Lieutenant Junior Grade Ernest Staveley. They married in 1950, moved to California, and had five children. When Ernest was promoted to Naval Commander, the family moved to the Washington, DC area.

In 1968, Ernest retired from the Navy and took a position at The Ohio State University. They resided in Upper Arlington, OH for 30+ years. Dorothy raised her children and filled her garden with organic edibles and composted 40 yrs before it was popular. She was also a serious Xbox and computer gamer until age 92. In their later years, Ernest and Dorothy enjoyed traveling in the US and England. However, their favorite place on earth was Pebble Beach, CA. After Ernie’s death in 2009, Dorothy moved to Minneapolis, MN. She took up Tai Chi, Qigong and the ukulele. Many trips were made to Pebble Beach with family, and when she could no longer visit, the Monterey Bay Aquarium YouTube livestream was watched daily.

Dorothy was a modest and unassuming person, which belied her many accomplishments. She was accepting of others, generous, and found the best in people and circumstances. She was a well-read and well-informed person. Above all, she was interested in her kids and grandkids—they were her dearest of life’s accomplishments and she will be forever missed by them.

Dorothy was predeceased by her husband, Ernest, and son, David. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Reed (Paul), Helen Staveley (Tom), Joan Staveley (David) and Ruth Staveley (Ján); grandchildren and great-grandchildren; extended family.

A celebration of Dorothy’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, Sept. 17 at Towerlight Senior Living, 3601 Wooddale Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN. Private interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN. For service details please contact Dorothy’s family. Memorials are preferred to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940, or donate online at www.montereybayaqurium.org. Look for Join & Give, then Honor a loved one links.