Dorothy Dell Eachus

Dorothy Dell House Eachus

Dorothy Dell Eachus, age 95, passed away on January 18, 2024, in Roswell, New Mexico. Dorothy Dell House was born on June 25, 1928, to Maye Edith Estes House and Elbert Russell House in Goodson, Missouri. Dorothy was the fourth child of seven and was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Otto Gail Eachus, Jr., and her siblings Joseph Estes House, Elva Maye House-Lewis (twins), Virginia House-Yakerson, Allen Russell House, Roy D House, and Irma Sue House. She was also preceded in death by her nephew Mark D House and nieces Sheila Darlene House and Sarah House. Dorothy is survived by her two children Timothy Gail Eachus of Granby, Missouri (Jacqueline Clark Eachus) and Terri Dee Eachus-Taylor of Roswell, New Mexico (Paul Henry Taylor III), her grandchildren Timothy Cameron Eachus of Montreal, Canada, Alexandra Paige Taylor of Roswell, New Mexico, and her great grandchild Haley Eachus of Montreal, Canada. Dorothy was the last surviving aunt of her numerous nephews and nieces: Diane Yakerson; Frank Joseph Lewis; Elizabeth Lewis-Hall; Russell House; Deborah House; James David (Rocky) House; Suzanne House; Joel House; Paul House; Sunday House; Jordan House and Laura Grace House. Dorothy has numerous great and great- great nieces and nephews that survive her. Dorothy also leaves behind her canine support group— Pierre, Henri, and Violet. She loved them all and they loved her back.

Dorothy was raised on farms in Polk County, Missouri in her earliest years and spent her middle school years in Santa Paula, California. She learned how to work hard and to apply herself early on in her life. She spoke fondly about her childhood memories. Dorothy had a great love for her siblings and her parents. The House family returned to their roots in Newton County, Missouri where Dorothy finished high school and graduated from Midway Consolidated in Stark City, Missouri and then attended college at Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with “highest honors” from Southwest Missouri State, now known as Missouri State, in 1949 and went on to earn her Master of Science degree in Biology from Kansas State University in 1963. She was selected as Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges. Dorothy helped to continue a legacy of maintaining, operating, and managing farms in Missouri, one of which has been in her family for well over 150 years, her parent’s farm, and her farm that she and her husband Otto purchased over 60 years ago.

Dorothy’s maternal grandmother and maternal great grandmother were both college educated women who chose teaching as a career. Dorothy also chose teaching as her profession, and there was no looking back. She excelled as an educator. She loved her work and her students, and it showed. Dorothy was able to remember each of her students’ first and last names in her very first class she taught and where they each sat in her classroom. She remained in contact with several of those students until her death.

Dorothy had an incredible mind and spirit. She taught thousands of students over her 43 years as an educator and inspired and influenced careers in many areas. She remained humble even though she was told by so, so many that she was their favorite teacher of all time. One of her greatest joys was to receive birthday cards from her former students and the community. These cards were full of kind words and were very uplifting for Dorothy. She loved and supported her students as well as her colleagues. Many of her teaching friendships and relationships have spanned more than 60 years. DDE, as she was called by her colleagues, never stopped learning or teaching.

Dorothy met her husband Otto while attending college at Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri. Dorothy was his biology lab instructor at the pay rate of 38 cents per hour. She was also his square dance partner in PE class. Otto was a sharp dresser and had to be quick on his feet to have caught Dorothy. They were married on May 17, 1950, at Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Missouri.

Dorothy began her teaching career in Granby, Missouri. Six years later, she and Otto both were recruited by the Roswell Independent School District in Roswell, New Mexico. Dorothy taught at Roswell High School from 1955-1964. The 1964 El Coyote Annual was dedicated to Dorothy. She was again remembered by those same students in September of 2014. She was their special honoree at their reunion. In 1965, Dorothy moved to Goddard High School to be the head of the Science Department there. She remained at the helm for 26 years where she taught General Biology (Biology I), Anatomy and Physiology (Biology II), and Advanced Biology (Biology III). She sponsored the Science Club and led field trips to Los Alamos National Lab and Sandia Lab. She took teams to science competitions and quiz bowls at UNM and ENMU Portales and had many winning teams. She judged science fairs and encouraged students to participate in science fairs and knowledge-based science competitions. She made at least one Spring Break trip to Mexico with the Spanish Club at GHS. She was impressed with the livestock on the bus that travelled along with them on their adventure. She was also the sponsor for two ALSG tours to Europe that were experiences that Dorothy fondly remembered. After Dorothy retired from teaching at Goddard High School, she taught night classes at Eastern New Mexico University- Roswell.

Throughout the years, Dorothy’s abilities and dedication earned her numerous awards and recognitions by fellow educators and students. She was chosen Outstanding Biology Teacher of New Mexico in 1979. Dorothy served as a member of the National Education Association New Mexico Board of Directors from the Southeast Region. She also served as a member of numerous local committees for the NEA. Dorothy was a member of several professional organizations and had been on numerous North Central teams to evaluate high school science departments. Dorothy was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional society established in 1929, that works to improve opportunities for qualified women employed at every level of education, as well as in advancing the status of women educators.

Dorothy kept score at volleyball games at Goddard High School for years, and she enjoyed it very much. Dorothy was a huge sports fan and spent much of her time watching and following all sports. She knew players and coaches, salaries, rankings, and more. She picked a basketball bracket for March Madness each year. She kept up with all of the neighborhood kids’ athletic accomplishments and would make sure she cut out their accolades from the newspaper and had them delivered. She nor Otto missed a game, dance recital, or performance that their granddaughter Paige was involved in. Dorothy was a Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune fan and played along nightly with the contestants. She was a competitor and loved to win. She played basketball and softball in her youth. Though her hearing and sight were failing her, her brain remained as sharp as it ever was, and what a brain it was!!!

Dorothy was one of the oldest members at Trinity United Methodist Church. She attended Trinity for over 68 years. She and Otto raised their family in that church.

After Dorothy retired from teaching (she never really did), she dedicated her time and talents to raising her granddaughter, Paige. She made sure that all sports practices, music lessons, and dance lessons were attended, but only after a pre-activity snack of French fries dipped in ice cream. Many life lessons were learned along the way too.

What a bond was formed. What a gift she gave to Paige and her parents.

Dorothy never met an animal, bird, insect, bush, tree, fish, amphibian, etc. that she didn’t like and know something interesting or an important fact about. She most likely knew the genus and species of almost any category of flora or fauna — from the single cell protozoa right on up the proverbial food chain. She loved the animal and plant kingdoms. She was an expert at teaching about the human body and how it worked.

She kept up with scientific developments and discoveries and marveled at these miracles and how they would change the world and people’s lives. She never became stale or lost her interest in life. She loved the world and the people in it.

Dorothy had an extended family of caregivers which she also cared for and loved. They learned about sports, world news, politics, math, and life — whether they liked it or not. She taught them what grit and determination looked like. She was grateful for each and every one of them. Thank you so much to Alison, Elvira, Haide, Maria, Melissa, Nicole, and Veronica for the care you gave to Dorothy. Thank you also to Dr. Bob Rader and Eric Stangebye who were her students and then her medical team when she needed them.

Dr. Keely Holder held a special place in Dorothy’s heart. She was a wonderful friend and physician to Dorothy and went above and beyond to keep her spirits up and her chi flowing. Rosetta Holmes was also a great friend who encouraged and entertained Dorothy and made sure gourmet snacks were delivered often. Nicole Vargas was a major help to Dorothy and did anything and everything to ensure that she had flowers, candy, Christmas trees, Easter baskets, etc. Nicole brightened up many days for Dorothy.

Dorothy was blessed to have Paul Henry Taylor III as her son-in-law. Paul made sure that Dorothy had everything she needed to be comfortable and remain in her own home. He was so kind and considerate of her and made sure she was not lacking for anything. Paul would fill in as a caregiver when there was a hole in the care schedule that could not be covered. He visited her regularly and spoke with her or texted her on a daily basis. He was never too busy to take her calls. He took Sunday dinner each week to Dorothy and her caregivers. He picked her up physically and emotionally. Paul was there to kiss her on her forehead and wish her Godspeed to heaven when Dorothy left this earth. They had mutual respect and affection for each other. Dorothy was thankful and grateful for Paul.

Dorothy was strong in her faith and an example to follow in the way she lived her life. She was steady, consistent, determined, and a no-nonsense kind of girl with a great sense of humor. She was a good neighbor, a loyal friend, a patriot, a kind soul, an encourager, a strong woman, a fierce competitor, a wealth of knowledge, an accomplished teacher, a devoted spouse, a supportive mother-in-law, an excellent mother, and an exceptional grandmother. Dorothy was a force of nature and an extraordinary human being. She will be greatly missed.

A celebration of Dorothy’s life will be held on May 4, 2024, at 2:00 pm at Trinity United Methodist Church in Roswell, New Mexico. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Dorothy’s honor to the Assurance Home, Cowboy Bell Scholarship Fund, Roswell Humane Society, The Heifer Project, or Habitat for Humanity.