Obituary of Dorothy Mae Talley

Dorothy Mae Talley, 91, of Camdenton, Missouri, formerly of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, passed from this life on Sunday, May 10, 2020. Dorothy was born March 10, 1929 in D’Hanis, Texas, the daughter of Erwin Jacob Lutz and Dorothy Josephine Lutz. She was preceded in death by her first husband Raymond May with whom she had three sons, Robert, Ralph, and Ronald May. Dorothy and the boys moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1965 and then on to Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 1970 to accept a position as an Executive Assistant with Phillips Petroleum. Here she met Ralph Talley, whom she would later marry. Ralph and Dorothy built and shared a home on the outskirts of Bartlesville. Before retirement Dorothy excelled in her career in oil and gas. Afterward she remained very active in the Bartlesville community volunteering as a docent at Woolaroc as well as serving as an appointed Guardian Ad Litem locally. She was also an active member of Bartlesville First United Methodist Church and found enjoyment singing in the church choir. Dorothy had a passion for classical music, and especially enjoyed attending OK Mozart, the Bartlesville classical music festival annually. She was also a frequent attendee of the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra. One of Dorothy’s favorite things was hosting the family for the holidays. She loved to cook and bake, and there was never a shortage of her homespun food in the house. Her cherry torts remain a family favorite. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Raymond May and Ralph Talley; brother Clyde Lutz; granddaughter Tabitha May-Tower; and daughter-in-law Pam May. Dorothy is survived by her sisters Melba Rose Rothe, Mary Lee Howard, Erline Helms, Jenalee Schwenn and Carolyn Bourguin; and her brothers Elton Lutz, Paul Lutz, and Floyd Lutz; her sons Robert May and wife Sandra, Ralph May, Ronnie May and wife Sharon; grandchildren Misty Olson and husband John, Lacy May, Joseph May, Julia May, Brett May, Rowdy May and wife Misty; and great-grandchildren, Megan Olson, Macyn Olson, Colton Carter, Coy Carter, Shannon ‘Reagan’ May, Reece Nicole May, and Kassandra Tower. Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.