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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Dorothy Rasley
DOROTHY RASLEY
Cedar Rapids
Dorothy E. Rasley, 98, of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully Wednesday, April 23, 2014, in the hospice center at St. Luke's Hospital. Memorial services will be 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1340 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. The service will be officiated by the Rev. Lloyd Brock-meyer. Her body was cremated and will rest at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery near that of her husband, mother and father.
Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Karen Fieseler of West Branch; her sons, James A. Rasley III of Richardson, Texas, and Richard Rasley of Oak Park, Ill.; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Her husband of 44 years, James A. Rasley Jr., died in 1984.
Dorothy was born Sept. 27, 1915, in New Sharon, Iowa, the daughter of Alfred and Mabel Watland. Dorothy's early years were mostly spent on farms in New Sharon, Downey and Maynard, but her family eventually moved to Cedar Rapids in 1928. Dorothy graduated from the old Washington High School in 1932. Following high school, Dorothy attended business college for a short time and then worked as an administrative assistant for a number of area companies. Dorothy began dating Jim Rasley in 1933 and they married on Sept. 21, 1940, following Jim's graduation from the University of Iowa. Immediately following their marriage, Dorothy and Jim moved to Chicago following Jim's work. In early 1942, Jim began his service as an officer in the Army and the two moved to Little Rock, Ark., where they stayed for the rest of the war. In 1946, Dorothy and Jim moved back to Cedar Rapids, where they spent the rest of their lives.
Following their return to Cedar Rapids, Jim and Dorothy joined Elmcrest Country Club and remained members for many years. Dorothy loved golf, bowling, bridge, working crossword puzzles, volunteer work and being with friends who shared those interests. She was devoted to St. Paul's United Methodist Church and was an active member until her last year. In addition, Dorothy was a longtime volunteer in the gift shop at St. Luke's Hospital and a member of the St. Luke's
Auxiliary.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dorothy's name may be made to St. Paul's United Methodist Church.
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