DOROTHY F. (LANFORD) WILSON

Dorothy (Dottie) Wilson announced to her children standing at her hospital bedside that she would be leaving the earth the following day. True to her word, she passed the next morning on Sunday, Jan. 22 with her little dog Polly lying next to her, while holding the hands of her daughters, who were sitting by her side.

She was born in Athens, Alabama to Roy Malone and Bertha Jacobs. She spent a good portion of her life in Iron River, Wi. raising her family, then in later years in Waukegan, Illinois with her husband Jim Wilson and her beloved dogs, Pokey, Parker and Polly.

She worked most of her lifetime, picking cotton in the fields of Alabama as a child, doing factory work, waitressing, and working as a nurse's aid, but mostly as a mother who loved her children more than life itself. She had a love of animals and a heart of gold.

She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant son Jerry Payne; sisters Virginia Mann and Joyce Ann Dugger; brother Roy H. Malone, Jr.; husband Nelson Payne, husband Leon Lanford, and husband Jim Wilson; and her "babies," Pokey and Parker. She is survived by daughters Sandy (James) Morris, Poplar, Wi.; Kathy (Jeff) Kemp, Brule, Wi.; Diane Lanford Martin, Superior, Wi.; Rhonda Lanford (Judith Davidoff), Madison, Wi.; a son Raybron Lanford, Duluth, Minn.; Step child Steve (Kathy} Wilson of Waukegan, Ill., and her children of the heart, Ellen Berz of Madison, Wi.; Elizabeth Smith of Ocala, Fla. , and Ken Meysman of Poplar, Wi. She is also survived by her brother Johnny Malone of Elkmont, Ala, sister Linda Malone Garrett of Athens, AL, and grandchildren Jay, Jimmy, Jesse, Jason, Amanda, Garrett, J.W and J.R., great grandchildren Kevin and C.J., many nieces and nephews, and of course her beloved dog, Polly.

Her legacy and love will live on through her family who loves her very much. We extend a special thank you to Hospice of St. Mary's Hospital Duluth, who cared for her in her last hours with respect, love and grace, and who gave the family support and genuine love during this very hard time.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: 3:30 p.m. at the Cremation Society of Duluth, on Friday, Jan. 27, with visitation from 2:30-3:30. reception to follow. Dottie used to tell her children that if she were a rich woman, she would take in all of the animals who were hungry, abused, or had no place to call home, and make sure they were cared for. To honor her wish, in lieu of flowers, our family asks that memorials be made to the Animal Rescue Federation of Superior, Wi.

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