Dorothy Marie Fouts Keesee McCord of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died early Tuesday morning, November 10, 2009, in the Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home in Blackwell at the age of 87 years.

Dorothy Marie Fouts Keesee McCord was born on March 29, 1922, on a farm in northern Phillips County, Kansas, to Ralph R. and Mary (Schmid) Fouts. The youngest of five children, she started country school at the age of five and graduated from high school in Agra, Kansas, at the age of sixteen by taking two grades per year. She graduated as salutatorian of her class and began teaching in a country school. On August 29, 1939, she married Vaughn Keesee and to this union three children were born – Karen, Mary and Jerry. They lived in rural Phillips County where they both taught school. Following the death of her husband in 1944, she moved to Phillipsburg, Kansas, to be near the children's grandparents. She worked at the J. C. Penney Store and later worked as a substitute teacher. She furthered her education by taking correspondence classes and summer school at Fort Hays State University acquiring additional college credits. These additional credits allowed her to return to teaching and she taught first grade for many years before moving to the fifth grade. On November 10, 1955, she married Loren McCord and to this union three boys were born – Terry, Tim and Trenton. In 1958 she retired from teaching full-time to devote her time to her family. She later worked as a tutor and substitute teacher in the Phillipsburg School system. In April of 1961, at the age of six months, her son, Trenton, preceded her in death. In 1966 they moved to Braman, Oklahoma, where her husband served as minister of the Braman Church of Christ. In 1970 they moved to Blackwell to make their home and in 1982 she began working for the Associated Charities until 1988. Her husband preceded her in death on March 1, 1999, and she continued to make Blackwell her home. She was a member of the OHCE Extension for forty years and was named Homemaker of the Year. She was an active member of the Blackwell Church of Christ and while in Phillipsburg held membership in the Delta Kappa Gamma.

She is survived by her children, Karen Cochenour and husband Larry of Blackwell, Oklahoma, Mary Heersink and husband Ivan of Phillipsburg, Kansas, Jerry Keesee and wife Cheryl of Phillipsburg, Kansas, Terry McCord of Blackwell, Oklahoma, and Tim McCord and wife Brenda of Siloam Springs, Arkansas; two sisters, Velma Munyon of Phillipsburg, Kansas, and Kathryn Matteson of Homedale, Idaho; eleven grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren; nine step-great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; five step-great great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Howard Fouts; a sister, Opal Peterson; a grandson, Kurt Kellerman; and a son-in-law, Willis Kellerman.

Services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday, November 13th in the Blackwell Church of Christ with Lanny Jobe of the Blackwell Church of Christ, officiating. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 14th in the Agra Cemetery with Robert Keesee officiating. Visitation will be held in Phillipsburg, Kansas, on Friday evening from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel.

Casketbearers will be David Cochenour, Randy Cochenour, Kevin Cochenour, Doug Keesee, Rod Keesee, Dennis Keesee, Kerry Kellerman and Trenton McCord.

A memorial has been established for the Blackwell Church of Christ Youth Group or the Blackwell Associated Charities in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.