Dorothy Mae Gilbreath was born December 22, 1909 to Julian and Alice Stark Cox at Myrtle, Missouri and departed this life on February 1, 2011 in Palm Springs, California at the age of 101.

Dorothy was united in marriage to Elmer R. Gilbreath on October 20, 1930 at the First Baptist Church of Strong City, Oklahoma. Reverend S.S. Elliott performed the ceremony. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Alice Lea and Carolyn Faye. The couple moved to Arnett, Oklahoma on January 1, 1934. Each winter they would travel to Brawley, California where both of their girls lived at that time and then return home to Arnett during the summer months. While they enjoyed the warmth of California they were always happy to return to Arnett and their friends of many years.

Dorothy was baptized when she was 12 years of age in a running creek near the Baptist Church in Myrtle, Missouri. Later in life she changed her membership to the First Baptist Church of Arnett.

In earlier years, Dorothy was very active with politics, spending 50 years on the election board in Arnett. She was also active with the school cafeteria for years doing what she loved best, cooking; also for the Kiwanis for several years plus other activities which she enjoyed immensely yet was able to make a great home life for Elmer and her girls.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 74 ½ years, Elmer Gilbreath, her parents, four brothers and three sisters. She is survived by her daughters, Alice Lea Rand of Palm Springs, California and Carolyn Faye Machado and husband Doyle of Brawley, California; granddaughter, Francine Rand-Manzano of Winchester, California; grandson, Rick Rand of Evergreen, Colorado and great-grandson Ramon Manzano and wife Emily of Chico, California; nephews and nieces, other family and a host of dear friends.