Dorothy Lee “Dottie” Speedie

July 18, 1938 – September 16, 2026

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Dorothy Lee “Dottie” Speedie passed away peacefully on September 16, 2026, at the age of 88. Dottie was born on July 18, 1938, in Birmingham, Alabama. The daughter of a military father who served during World War II, Dottie grew up as a military kid. Between her birth in Birmingham and her marriage in Chicago, Illinois, she lived in nine different places. In 1957, she married John C. Speedie, Jr., and began life as an Army wife. The traveling continued, and over the years that followed, Dottie would move another 18 times as she raised her family and built a life in one new place after another. She and John enjoyed sailing and scuba diving in Hawaii, and camping and hiking in other places.

Dottie was never particularly constrained by what might have been expected of a woman of her generation. She attended classes at Texas A&M University at a time when women were not yet admitted as regular students. Because spouses of students were permitted to enroll, Dottie was able to take classes while John was a student there. A&M professors had to remember to watch their language when Dottie was in class!

In the late 1970s, Dottie returned to school to become a nurse and began a career she loved. Her favorite work was as a neonatal intensive care (NICU) nurse, providing high-acuity care for premature infants, critically ill newborns, and babies born with congenital conditions or birth defects. She cared for the babies and also their distressed parents.

In the late 1970s, Dottie decided on a whim that she wanted to learn to fly. While working the night shift at the hospital, she would finish her shift in the morning and stop for flying lessons on her way home. She earned her pilot’s license and took her first and last solo flight. Her family was always very proud of that achievement.

Later in life, Dottie was married to Robert Kennedy “Ken” Speedie, who preceded her in death. They shared many adventures traveling the country together.

Dottie’s faith deepened in the later years of her life. The church services at Brookdale and her Women’s Bible Study at Fellowship Bible Church became important sources of encouragement, friendship, and comfort to her. She found genuine excitement in what she was learning about Jesus, and those discoveries brought her joy and a deepening faith near the end of her life.

Dottie is predeceased by her parents Lt. Col. Lester Howard and Dorothy Clark, and by her brother Marshall who died serving his country in Viet Nam.

Dottie is survived by her children, John David Speedie and wife Molly, Lynne Elizabeth Doud and husband Eric, and Lora Lee Doremus and husband Bob; and by her grandchildren, Glen Tabor (Ashley), Karen Sepolio (Eric), Diane Reyes (Jorge), Brad Doremus (Savannah), Lindsay Hackett (Jim), Andrew Doud, and Daniel Doud.

She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Ben, Jack, and Kate Tabor; Ethan, Emily, and Abby Sepolio; Sofia and Daniela Reyes; Marshall Clark; and Charlie Hackett. Known as “Grammy” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Dottie loved them dearly. Last Christmas, she made certain that each one received a special gift she had crocheted just for them.

Those handmade gifts—created one by one, with each child in mind—will now be treasured reminders of their Grammy and the love she had for them. Dottie’s was a life of many places and many chapters—from military kid to Army wife, student to nurse, Mother to Grammy. Through it all, she remained willing to discover something new. That curiosity was still very much alive in her final years as her faith grew and she continued to learn, right to the end.

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A Funeral Service will be held in honor of Dottie’s life, Thursday, September 24th, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. at Crowder Funeral Home, 2422 E. Broadway Street, Pearland Tx. 77581.

A committal service will be held at Houston National Cemetery Friday, September 25th, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.