Dorothy Marie Klepper

Dorothy Marie "Mammie" Klepper, age 87, of Elm Mott, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother went to be with her Lord Monday evening, November 15, 2010 while at home surrounded by her loved ones. Graveside services will be held 1:00 p.m. Thursday at Moore Cemetery near Chalk Bluff, with the Rev. Charles Howard officiating. Following the graveside services the family will meet at Mammies home in Elm Mott. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Mrs. Klepper was born in McGregor, Texas on October 19, 1923 to Mae Elizabeth (Mary) and George Spillman. Her family moved to Chalk Bluff when she was a small child where she lived, loved, attended school and laughed all of her life. She was united in marriage to Ira Klepper on June 1, 1957 in Waco. He preceded her in death on January 7, 2003. Dorothy started out her young life working in fields picking cotton along the Brazos River with her family. As a young woman she went to work as a seamstress in local sewing factories starting back in WWII sewing tents where she continued to work for many years. Later she went to work for her son, Ron Leidig at Gholson Grocery where she worked hard, laughed hard and became Mammie to many for over 25 years until her retirement at age 85. She was a caring, giving and loving Christian whose faith, love and devotion in the Lord and her family will be dearly missed. She was a member of Victory Tabernacle Church in Lacy Lakeview. Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents; her son, Dickie Leidig; two brothers, George Franklin Spillman and John Earl Spillman; one sister, Dollie Ruth Herbelin; one granddaughter and one step-grandduaghter. Survivors include three sons, Ronald Leidig and wife Mary of West, David Mercer and wife Linda of Gholson and Greg Klepper and wife Brenda of Elm Mott; one daughter, Gloria Bittle and husband Louis of Elm Mott; one step-daughter, Pamela Bratton and husband Ralph of Austin; two sisters, Joyce Slaight and husband Don and Loyce Singleton, all of Chalk Bluff; twelve grandchildren, Regina and James Martin, Connie and Reggie Gassaway, Louis Bittle Jr., David Stapleton Jr., Rhonda Sherrill, Melissa and Pete Hardin, Jason and Kirsten Leidig, Richard Larson Leidig, Sean and Melissa Mercer, Weston Klepper, Hannah Klepper and Haley Klepper; two step-grandchildren, Jeff and Nikki Bratton and Otis "Skip" Williams; nineteen great grandchildren; one step-great grandchild; four great great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. The family would like to give special thanks to Guardian Angels, Providence Hospice Waco and Helen Northrup. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Providence Hospice.