Funeral Services for Dorothy Mae Grueter, Age 92 of Willow Springs, Missouri will be held on Monday, June 8th, 2026 at The Elliot-Gentry Carder Funeral Home, Cabool, Missouri, beginning at 1:00 PM. Interment will be in The Willow Springs City Cemetery, Willow Springs, Missouri.
Dorothy Mae (Haynes) Greuter of Willow Springs, Mo. left this world behind on May 28, 2026, at the age of 92.
Preceding her in death were her parents Claude and Grace (Brawley) Haynes, three brothers Vernon, Charles, and Marvin, Winona Mo, one sister Opal Hicks – Willow Springs, Mo, one grandson, Jeremy Greuter and one great grandson, Alex Greuter. Surviving her, are two sons – Lonnie Greuter, his daughters Sarah and Jessica and their children, – Lynn Greuter, his daughter Mandy, and her daughter, and one great-great granddaughter.
Dorothy was born on May 26, 1934, and raised in the Irish Wilderness between Winona and Alton Missouri, near Falling Springs. Her heritage as a native resident to that area was a source of fondness and pride because of the rich family ties from the Brawley and Haynes sides of her mother and father. Generations of her family are buried in the Falling Springs Cemetery, and she could relate stories that had origins in the 1800’s including ancestors who had walked the Trail of Tears. She was a wealth of cultural knowledge and wisdom, living out the values of her generation, and those previous.
She lived through the remnants of the Great Depression and all of WWII. After graduation from Winona High School in 1951, she moved to the Willow Springs area where she was first employed at the bus station as a server, and Garret’s Grocery store as a cashier. Her marriage in 1952, which ended in divorce in 1972, could not conquer her indomitable spirit, strength, resolve, and self-preservation.
Initially beginning as a substitute cook at Cabool School in 1968, she eventually gained full time status, then applied to head the department as Food Service Director. As director she went on to achieve respect as one of the highest ranked food service directors in the statewide Missouri public school system. Her ethics and morals served her well, as evident by the love and respect she received from not only the work force under her, but also the board and administration over her. She delivered thirty-two years of professionalism and dedication to Cabool School until her retirement in May 2000.
Dorothy served many years as superintendent at Faith and Hope Freewill Baptist Church, as well as a teacher covering all age groups. Virginia Anderson once said she “had heard Dorothy preach a better message in her classes than the pastor ever did.” Dorothy’s charity, kindness, and understanding for the needs of others, whether in the congregation or outside of it, was a result of the trials of life that she knew all too well. Her wisdom and compassion guided and helped to heal many a broken and bruised soul that needed refreshing. The hours she spent in prayer, on the phone when people called, the meals she fixed and delivered to the sick, and the prepared dishes for church events, would be incalculable.
Ever the independent thinker, in her later years she sought to understand her Bible from its Jewish roots. She came to embrace the scriptures often saying how much more alive they became to her in depth and meaning as a result. She especially loved the Passover Seders and Sukkot. Her talents of culinary expertise graced many tables in the Appointed Times; it was her “reasonable service to the Lord.” She saw the prophetic importance of standing with Israel and the Jewish people, as well as giving to the Holocaust survivors, October 7th victims, the IDF, and ministries connecting Jews and Gentiles. She loved to watch the T.V. shows that documented the land of Israel where she could see the places of the homeland of her Savior.
Dorothy’s independence was evident around her home. Her love of flowers and gardening were admired by the visitors she had. In the fifty-three years she lived there, she had transformed a barren landscape into and oasis of shade, colors and scents. Each flower had a story, attached to someone, or some place. A rose that had been in her family for over a hundred years and grew alongside her grandfather’s gate was her prized possession. She had worn out two John Deere mowers, and was working on the third one when she passed away.
Dorothy came from a generation that was inspired by belief in God, courage, morals, ethics, and determination. Her laughter and sense of humor in the face of trial and tribulations, good times and bad, only underscored the depth of her character. Her life has left a legacy that should inspire future generations. Those who were privileged to know her realize the great loss humanity has just suffered by her passing. She will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Israel 365 Charity at the following link: https://israel365charity.com/donate/ This was one of Dorothy and Lynn’s preferred charities.
