Dorothy Gidel

Mrs. Dorothy Irene Reed Gidel, age 92 years, of Jefferson City, Mo., a former Decatur, Ill. resident, died Monday, October 10, 2011, at the Capital Region Medical Center. Dorothy was born July 23, 1919, in Whitmore Township, Macon County, Ill., the daughter of Lester Amos and Irene Rhodes Reed. She was married on April 19, 1942, at the First United Methodist Church in Decatur, Ill., to Harold Raymond Gidel. She was a lifelong resident of the Decatur, Ill. area until 2009 when Harold and Dorothy moved to Jefferson City, Mo. She graduated from Decatur High School in 1937. Dorothy was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Decatur and she served as a Sunday School teacher and held many offices in the Sunday School Department as well as the United Methodist Women. She was a life member of the P.T.A and an active member of the Boodette Unit of the Homemakers Education Assn. She worked as a secretary to the Superintendent of Schools in Macon County, Ill. She was a homemaker and loved every aspect of it, as well as being a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Survivors include: her husband of 69 years, Harold; two daughters, Julie Callaghan and her husband Michael of St. Louis, Mo. and Jeanann Neighbors and her husband David of Jefferson City, Mo.; four grandchildren, Nathaniel Callaghan, Alyssa Callaghan, Tyler Bartimus, and Haley Bartimus. She was preceded in death by her parents; her step-father, William Raymond Pisell; and her brother, Virgil Lester Reed Sr. Visitation will be at the Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur, Ill., from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 13, 2011, and at the First United Methodist Church in Decatur from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 14, 2011. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 14, 2011, at the First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Kathy King-Nobles officiating. Interment will be at the Union Cemetery at Oreana, Ill. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the First United Methodist Church of Decatur, Ill., or the charity of the donor's choice. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com