Dorothy Ann Lovelace, maiden name Jernigan, passed away on May 9, 2023, at her home in Fircrest, Washington, after a lifetime spent loving and serving others.

Dorothy was born on January 13, 1937, in Vicksburg, Mississippi to parents Hugh and Verdee (Lott) Jernigan. She met Lamar Lovelace at the tender age of 14 while they were both students at Kings Garden in Seattle, Washington. They were married on August 27, 1954, on Bainbridge Island. They began their life together in a mobile home in Auburn, Alabama. Lamar was transferred to Ft. Lewis, Washington in October 1958 and they began to build their family by adding four children. As a young mother, Dorothy entered Tacoma General Nursing School to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. She received her Bachelor of Nursing in 1975 and spent 30 years in service as an emergency room registered nurse at St. Clair's Hospital in Lakewood, Washington. The couple moved to Fircrest, Washington in 1977 which remains the family home to this day.

Dorothy was an avid traveler, journeying as far north as Deadhorse, Alaska and as far south as Antarctica. She also visited China, Israel, Africa, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and more. She most often made these trips with her husband, one of her four children, a grandchild, or a dear friend.

Dorothy was a gifted seamstress and needlewoman, creating countless garments and gifts for others. Every week for 17 years she hosted her granddaughters and even great-granddaughters for Sewing Sunday, where her dining room table would be filled with sewing machines, love, and laughter. In addition to teaching sewing, she would prepare elaborate meals and beautiful high teas for them to enjoy.

Dorothy loved to "adopt" people. She collected about her a diversity of friends who became family and were blessed with her love and affection. Dorothy's love language was most decidedly gift giving and she took great joy in finding just the right item for her loved ones and even greater joy in presenting it to them.

Dorothy was a lifelong learner and loved to read on a wide range of subjects: health, cooking, biblical literature, prophecy, and biography. She also enjoyed gardening and swing dancing.

Dorothy was a highly spiritual person who loved and served Jesus through her long life. She was an active member at Tacoma Central Seventh Day Adventist Church, attending faithfully until her declining health made it impossible for her to do so.

Dorothy is survived by her husband of 68 years, James Lamar Lovelace of Fircrest, Washington; their four adult children James Madison Lovelace (Linda Kay Lovelace) of Fircrest, Washington, Craig Eugene Lovelace (Charity Lynn Lovelace) of Wasilla, Alaska, Lisa Diane Lovelace Hilton (Gus Kattermann) of Tacoma, Washington, and Darin Lamar Lovelace of Puyallup, Washington; grandchildren Noelani Evans (Mike Evans), Shaina Frey (Michael Frey), Teja Presley (Warren Presley), Larissa Betty (Nick Betty), Ariel Gudzyuk (Oleg Gudzyuk), Sivan Moore (Tucker Moore), Jessany Vasquez (Hector Vazquez), James Lovelace (Casey Lovelace), Mark Lovelace, Winter Lovelace, Priya Lovelace, Caleb Eugene Lovelace, Casey Craig Lovelace, Andrew Hilton, and Chloe Lovelace. She was also blessed with great-grandchildren Serenity Evans, Beckett Evans, Isla Evans, Knox Evans, Colby Moran, Zoey Betty, Piper Betty, Tristan Betty, Scarlett Betty, Ivy Betty, Bianca Frey, Daphne Frey, Gabriel Frey, Vivian Frey, Jun Presley, Jin Presley, Samantha Cook, Oleksander Gudzyuk, Wolfgang Gudzyuk, Isabella Vazquez, Elena Vaszquez, James Lovelace, Ezra Lovelace, and Cadence Merfield. A 25 ^th great-grandchild is expected in August 2023.

A viewing will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in the Evergreen Chapel at New Tacoma Cemetery. A graveside service will immediately follow.