Kathi Dotson

Katherine D. Dotson, 64, died April 20, 2024 at OSU Wexner Medical Center. 

Kathi was born December 3, 1959 in Pomona, California to the late LeRoy and Wanda (Gillham) Anderson. Her family moved to Orange Cove in 1977 and she graduated from Reedley High School in 1979. In 1981, Kathi enlisted in the US Marine Corps where she met Andrew Dotson while stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. She returned to Orange Cove and dated Andy while he was stationed in Hawaii. They were married July 27, 1985 and lived in Millington, Tennessee until 1994 when they moved to Orange Cove while Andy was stationed in Japan. They stayed in California to raise their children and care for her parents until moving to Andy’s hometown of Bucyrus, Ohio in 2022.

Kathi will be remembered for her compassion and caregiving nature. She was great with numbers and worked as a bookkeeper for a number of companies before earning her master’s degree. She operated Dotson’s Bookkeeping in Orange Cove where she was active in the American Legion Post 288 Auxiliary, the Orange Cove Women’s Club, and the Chamber of Commerce. She was named the Woman of the Year and Volunteer of the Year by those organizations. While raising her family, she was a Cub Scout den mother, Boy Scouts Leader and Commissioner, and active in the Titan Booster Club at OCHS.  She was passionate for animals and known as the neighborhood cat lady, seeing that each creature was well cared for.

Kathi is survived by her husband, Andy Dotson; children, Edwin Dotson and Christina Dotson; grandchildren, Emily, Jennie, and Elliot; siblings, Karen Hatton, Rick (Kelly) Anderson, Randy Anderson, and Cheryle Anderson; mother-in-law, Pat Dotson; brothers-in-law, Dan (Colleen) Dotson and Ted (Kathy) Dotson; sisters-in-law, LeeAnn (Bryan) Gray and Cassy (Kevin) Miller; along with nieces, nephews, and extended family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by father-in-law, Edwin G. Dotson.

While no public services are going to be observed, memorial gifts are encouraged to be made payable to the Humane Society Serving Crawford County and given through Wise Funeral Service, 129 W. Warren St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820.

Memories and photos can be shared on the guestbook.