Dorothy A. Russell

December 11, 1936 - December 29, 2012After a brief battle with cancer, on Saturday, December 29, 2012, Dorothy Alice (McMillan) Russell of Clinton, MD, surrounded by loved ones, peacefully passed away. She was born on December 11, 1936 along with her twin brother Daniel, to Clifford and Mildred McMillan. Dorothy was known as Dottie, Dot and Dolly. She grew up in a large family near Johnstown, PA in Tanneryville, and Lower Yoder and was the baby of 9 siblings with 3 sisters, MaryJane, Ruth ,Winnie and 5 brothers Richard, Clifford, John, Samuel with Daniel being the only surviving member of the immediate family. At 14 years old, Dorothy met a 15 year old, John Paul Russell from Benshoff Hill whom later became the love of her life. After receiving a scholarship to Beauty school she graduated high school in 1954 and went on to get her beautician license .While serving his country and on pass to his Grandmother’s funeral, John Russell asked Dorothy to marry him and the two returned to Biloxi Mississippi and were married on July 26, 1955. Their family grew a year later with the birth of their first son Clifford Paul and within a few years a daughter and two boys were born bringing the family to a nice even size of six. Dorothy was a homemaker raising four kids. She was a Brownie leader and Cub Scout leader for many years. She was a good cook and many in the neighborhood would come running when the smell of gobs filled the air. Holidays and birthdays were always made special as she had a flair for decorating cakes.After the kids moved out Dorothy spent several years at a local florist designing arrangements. She enjoyed the creativity and loved flowers so this was a perfect fit for her. She loved life, weddings, traveling, cruises and riding roller coasters. On a beautiful day you may find Dorothy on the back of John’s Harley Davidson motorcycle. For several years Dorothy and John were members of the musical band The Mustard Seeds. Dorothy taught herself how to play the auto harp and the band traveled around sharing their music in nursing homes and other events. Christ Episcopal Church was her spiritual home for nearly 50 years. She was a member of the ECW and even took the leadership role for a couple of years. She was a member of the alter guild, ran the bi-yearly rummage sales for many years and was instrumental in helping set up the thrift store in the church basement. Every Tuesday and every other Saturday morning Dorothy could be found working in the thrift store enjoying her friends. She was a beautiful woman who always had a smile and a kind word and will be greatly missed by many. She leaves us a legacy of family and was a shining example of what a woman, mother and role model should be.She is survived by her beloved husband John, daughter Cathy Marie and husband Steven Clark, son Dennis Alan and Jodie Marie Packard. She was preceded in death by sons Matthew Wayne and Clifford Paul surviving wife Debra Ann Russell. She had eleven grandchildren, Candice Clark Levin and husband Brandon Levin, Steven William John Clark, Alison Rachelle Clark, Dennis Alan Russell Jr. (Deceased), James Dennis Russell, April Christine Russell and Andy Flagg , Joseph Matthew Russell (Deceased) Katheryn Elizabeth Russell and Gary Ridgley, Alisa Ann Russell, Amanda Marie Russell, Annie Elizabeth Russell. She had two step grandsons William James Packard and Timothy Jevon Packard. She had nine great grandchildren, James Dennis Russell, Jonathan Joseph Russell, Jade Marie Russell, Kaleb Joseph Matthew Russell, Khloe Renee Flagg, Hope Lyn Ridgley, Hailey Jade Ridgley, Madeline Alice Levin, Sean Clark Levin. In lieu of flowers Dorothy requested that you make a donation to Christ Episcopal Church 8710 Old Branch Avenue, Clinton, MD 20735. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dorothy A. Russell please visit our Sympathy Store.