Dorothy Cordero

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Dorothy Garner Cordero, 80, of Waco, passed away Wednesday, January 3, 2007. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at OakCrest Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike Toby officiating. Burial will follow in Rosemond Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 - 11 a.m. Saturday prior to the service. A memorial video honoring her life will be shared during the visitation time.

Dorothy Pearl Garner was born June 15, 1926 in Kosse, TX to Lillie Mae (Worthey) and Willie Dale Garner, the second of three children. She graduated, class of 1941, from San Antonio Vocational & Technical High School where she was a Major in the ROTC Drill Squad.

Dorothy met Harry Cordero, Jr. in San Antonio, married in Boerne, and moved to Waco on Jan 1, 1950 during the biggest ice storm of the century. She immediately went to work for Mrs. Baird's Bread as a bookkeeper. Shortly thereafter, she was hired and trained by Larry Robinson Studios. She was manager of the Waco studio for many years until the demise of the popular chain following the death of it's namesake founder. Her beloved husband, Harry E. Cordero, Jr. predeceased her on Feb 11, 2002.

Dorothy was an entrepreneur. She owned and managed rental property and Bedder Interiors in Waco, Temple, and Killeen. She also found time to be active in her church, First Baptist Church of Woodway, her beloved Sunday School class - New Horizons, and was a Sunday School teacher for intermediate girls. She was president of both the Midway ISD PTA and the McLennan County Council PTA.

Dorothy found time to support her children, Suzanne, Mimi, and Hartley, as leader for Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, chauffeur to piano and voice lessons, teacher on trees, flowers, small animals, birds, and by reading "The Little Red Hen" too many times to be counted. She loved the water and would put her feet in at every opportunity -- no matter the weather. She loved travel with her family and crabbing on the coast.

She was always looking for "the perfect rock" -- though she found it early when she came to know Jesus as her Savior in 1952. She was baptized at North Waco Baptist Church.

Dorothy was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, and Sunday School teacher: She played all of these roles in a manner that made her loved by all who knew her. Her children want to thank her for a "memory book" of faith, fun, family, adventure, and learning. Thanks, Mom.

She is survived by her daughters, Suzanne (Sam) Manske of Waco, and Mimi Dale Larkin and her husband, Larry Larkin of Mansfield; Son, Harry Hartley Cordero (called "HH" by his mother) and his wife, Lisa of Burleson; Granddaughters, Meredith Suzanne Manske Wideman and her husband, Mitchell Nash Wideman, Stephanie Johns and Karissa Rose Cordero; and grandsons, Nelson Larkin and his wife, Stacey; Neal Larkin and his wife, Morgan; and Harrison Hartley Cordero; Brother, Lewis W. Garner and his wife, Nona of San Antonio; and Sister Delma Garner Jacks and her husband, the Reverend Claude W. Jacks, Jr of Beeville; and numerous nieces and nephews.