Dorothy Lea (Meek) Hagan

DOROTHY LEA (MEEK) HAGAN

Des Moines

Dorothy Lea (Meek) Hagan, 80, died April 30, 2018, due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. Her family was by her side.

Dottie was born July 26, 1937, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Beulah and Lloyd Meek. She received an associate's degree from Stevens College in 1957. After marrying Donald Hagan in 1960, she and Don lived in many places throughout the country during Don's commitment to the U.S. Public Health Service: Iowa City, El Paso (Texas), Fort Worth (Texas) and Sitka (Alaska). She spent the last 49 years in Des Moines.

Dottie had many hobbies and loves, the first of which was being a mom and grandmother (Nana). She was best known for mothering many children, her own as well as others. She was an exceptional cook and baker and ensured that everyone around her was well fed. She had a smile that could light up a room and an infectious laugh. Yearly traditions for Dottie included filling her backyard with flowers every summer, attending the International Barbershop Harmony competition with life-long friends (35-plus years) and making her famous caramels every Christmas.

She was very giving of her time, being an active volunteer in many different groups, including the Friends of Civic Music Association, countless school PTAs, the Dental Wives Auxiliary and the Des Moines Symphony Alliance. She is credited with organizing the highest-grossing fundraiser to date for the Civic Music Association. She also was a member of the PEO and the Harmony Central Sweet Adeline Chorus.

She is survived by countless loved ones and friends, including her husband of 57 years, Don; children, Doug Hagan (Cindy), Jeff Hagan (Malisa), Cindy Johnson (Charlie) and Christy Hagan (Sam LaRoque); and nine grandchildren, Stephanie, Matthew, Graham, Leila, Farah, Cooper, Hailey, Jacob and Ben.

Please join us for drinks and appetizers to celebrate Dottie's life on Saturday, June 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Center, 909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA 50309.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Dottie's favorite foundation, the Harmony Foundation International, an organization aimed at involving youth in barbershop harmony. Please visit harmonyfoundation.org/ways-to-give/memorial-giving or Harmony Foundation International, 110 Seventh Ave. N, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37203.