Dorothy E. Brackett, 84 of Abingdon, Illinois passed away at 2:37 p.m. Sunday, May 7, 2017 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria surrounded by the love of her children at her side.
She was born March 28, 1933 in Lake Forest, Illinois, the only child of Henry C. and Emma Timm Furstenberg. She was raised in Waukegan, Illinois and had attended school there, graduating from Waukegan High School.
On January 4, 1951, she married Thomas R. Brackett at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waukegan, the church in which she had been baptized and confirmed. He preceded her in death on April 11, 1985. She was also preceded in death by her parents.
Dorothy is survived by her children, Thomas M. (Kimberly) Brackett of Cary, Illinois, Susan (Dan) Josefson of Abingdon, Karen (Dave) Wilcox of LeRoy, Illinois, Michael D. (Paula) Brackett of Abingdon, Amy (Dale) Brooks of Abingdon and David R. Brackett of LeRoy; 13 grandchildren, Valerie, Michael, Sarah, Matt, Megan, Sara, Joy, Kristin, Libby, Andy, Joshua, David and Mackenzie, and 5 great-grandchildren, Tessa, Emma, Henry, August and Violet; 11 step-grandchildren and several step-great-grandchildren.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Abingdon, where in her earlier years she served as secretary to the Administrative Board, as well as serving on multiple committees and playing in the Handbell Choir. She was a Sunday school teacher and piano player for Sunday school and was the Vacation Bible School Director. She was an active member of United Methodist Women, serving as President and Secretary of the local unit and also serving four years as District Secretary of the Spoon River District.
Dorothy was employed over the years as a secretary, last working at RFMS, where she retired from in 2016 after 38 years of service to the company. She began as Administrative Assistant to Don Fike and formed many lasting friendships there during this time. One of the new DD Homes, Brackett Court on South Main Street in Abingdon, was named in her honor.
Dorothy enjoyed reading, especially mysteries and biographies. She was a past Cub Scout Leader and at one time, she wrote articles about Abingdon news for the Galesburg Register-Mail.
Over the last five years, she enjoyed traveling with her daughters to her childhood neighborhood and school and revisiting the homes of several aunts, whom she was very close to as a young girl. Being an only child, she was awarded very special treatment from her extended family and she shared very fond memories of those times.
She most enjoyed planning family gatherings and spending time with her family. Since she retired, she enjoyed her weekly lunch outings with her daughters.
To celebrate her life, visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at the Hinchliff-Pearson-West Abingdon Chapel. Private family service at the United Methodist Church of Abingdon and burial in the Abingdon Cemetery will be Thursday. Rev. Nancy Wilson will officiate the services.
Memorials may be made to the Knox County Humane Society. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.