The family of Dorothy L. "Dot" Sauer of Bethany, OK announces her passing, and invites all who knew her to remember her here.
Behind every name is a life, and behind every life are the people who loved it.
Grief is love with nowhere left to go.
Dorothy Lucille Sauer is now absent from her body to be at home with her Lord Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:8). We are all saddened by her absence, but are encouraged by the life she lived. Mom's life ended suddenly and peacefully on May 3, 2026, at the age of 88 (91, if she were writing this herself.) She was born August 5, 1937, during the Dust Bowl in Butler, Oklahoma.
Mom had only one child, a son, and she had no problem sharing with everyone she met, "God only allowed me one child, but He knew that was all I could have." But she had other plans. While her son was a young child, she demonstrated her love for children by raising three foster children (two boys and one girl) over a three-year period. She loved family gatherings as it gave her the opportunity to hold and make over all the "new" nieces and nephews.
At the age of twenty-eight she earned her GED, enrolled in college and received her BA in Elementary Education from SWOSU (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), graduating magna cum laude with a GPA of 3.748! She taught at various schools and her last teaching assignment before she retired was at Overholser Elementary.
Mom helped put on Bible school classes when she and her late spouse, ElDean, went on "Work and Witness" mission trips to Africa and Mexico. She enjoyed all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, watching them grow, being with them and loving all of them.
During the last four years, a new chapter opened up since ElDean's passing. Mom began filling his absence with her neighbors. They lovingly referred to her as "Miss Dot," "Cookie Lady" and "Mamma Sauer." You might wonder how we know this isn't just a story but let me assure you, it's more than a story. It's a legacy and I know this because I'm her "only child."
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, ElDean; three sisters, Marie Marks, Neola Breitling and Doris Hicks (twin); and two brothers, Frank Hicks and Charles Hicks.
She is survived by one son, William Bradley Barrick and wife Sheila of Woodward, OK; 3 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Viewing at Mercer-Adams is Wednesday from 9am-8pm. Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday, May 7 at Mercer-Adams Chapel. The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed on this obituary page. Interment will follow in Bethany Cemetery.
