Dorothy M. Dally

Dorothy Marie Dally, age 98, passed away peacefully at Clare Bridge of Portage on May 6, 2014. Dorothy was born September 30, 1915 on a farm southeast of Florid, Illinois to William M. Benson and Helen Hawthorne Benson (William I.) Tyler.  When Dorothy was only a few years of age, the family moved to homestead in Big Timber, Montana.  The Bensons returned to Granville in 1924.  She was a granddaughter and the oldest living descendent of the W.E. and Emma Hawthorne family. Dorothy attended the local Granville schools and graduated from Hopkins Township High School in 1934.  While in high school she was a trophy and medal winning tennis star.  Later her sports involvements were golf, bowling and cheering for the ball teams.  She loved college basketball, especially Tom Izzo and the MSU Spartans and Bobby Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers. On August 8, 1937, Dorothy and Leonard R. Dally (also of Granville) eloped to Crown Point, Indiana. Leonard had to borrow the $3 for the marriage license from Dorothy – a fact she never let him forget.  They settled in Benton Harbor, Michigan where they lived the rest of their lives.  They were the parents of three children – Patricia Ann (James P.) Murphy, Barbara Kay Dally, and Curtis L. (Christine M.) Dally. Dorothy was a homebody and her life centered around her family and their activities.  She participated in various types of employment and enjoyed the opportunities presented by living in one of the great fruit producing areas where she helped pick fruit and worked in a cannery.  After her husband’s retirement, they traveled weekly for over a decade from Benton Harbor to Granville to care for aged parents.  Her primary hobby was crocheting and she hooked miles of yarn into over 100 crocheted afghans that were treasures for family and friends. Surviving are her son Curtis L. (Christine M.) Dally of Portage, Michigan, son-in-law James P. Murphy of Monroe, Tennessee, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.  Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband in 2005, after 67 years of marriage, her two daughters, one grandson (Shawn Patrick Murphy), her parents (William M. and Laura Benson and Helen H. and William I. Tyler) and a younger brother, Billie Benson. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:30 A.M. Monday at Starks and Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph with The Rev. Pamela V. Sten officiating.  Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph, Michigan.  Friends may visit with the family from 4:00 until 6:00 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home.  Memorial donations may be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure or Great Lakes Caring Hospice.