The name Dorothy means “gift of God,” and Dorothy Vacek was a gift to her family, her students, her friends, who were many, and especially to her community.

She passed away at her home at 1 p.m. Saturday, surrounded by her family, after a valiant battle with cancer. She was 73.

On Nov. 5, 2008, Mayor C.L. “Buster” Brown issued an official proclamation declaring it Dorothy Vacek Day. An event held in her honor focused on her contributions to the town, with touching, funny stories from her many years of teaching home economics in Corsicana Independent School District.

That day, she was awarded a key to the city, a plaque from the Corsicana/Navarro County Chamber of Commerce, a resolution from the city, and a bridge for her yard. The pedestrian bridge was given to her by the Agricultural Workers Mutual Auto Insurance Company, where she was a board member.

Dorothy was born June 27, 1935 to Frank John and Erma Annie Barta, who were farmers. She was taught from an early age about hard work, and Christmas was always a very special time for her family. She recalled cloth dolls made by her mother for she and her sister, Katy. The dolls had long brown pigtails, but were lost in a fire that destroyed their home and everything in it in 1954. Dorothy later found a similar doll locally which she cherished as a reminder of her days growing up on the farm.

Her first homemaking course came when she was in the ninth grade, and she “fell in love with the curriculum.” She learned to cook and sew, and also joined 4-H, and was named “Gold Star Girl” in 1954.

After graduation from high school, Dorothy enrolled at Wharton County Junior College, and it was at orientation that she spotted a handsome young man “with twinkling blue eyes,” who was the student body president, Jerome Vacek. They were later enrolled in the same dance class, and Jerome always asked Dorothy to dance.

He followed her to Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos, and after dating a while, he proposed on New Year’s Eve 1955. To that union were born three children: Michele Emma Sophie Vacek Carpenter, Lisa Ann Katherine Vacek Boesen, and Jerome Charles Vacek II.

In a document Dorothy penned before her passing, she described how she would take Michele and Lisa shopping at Neiman Marcus when they were little. The girls would try on the clothes, Dorothy would sketch the designs, then go home and make them herself. Later, she enjoyed creating clothing designs which she sold at booths in both Jefferson and Salado.

Dorothy Vacek taught home economics in El Campo, Ganado, New Braunfels, and Corsicana ISDs over a span of 44 years. She also used her leadership skills learned in 4-H to serve her peers as state president of the Vocational Home Economics Teachers Association of Texas, and the Texas Vocational Technical Association. She received honors for Teacher of the Month, Teacher of the Year, and the Golden Apple Award.

She retired from teaching in 2005, but, never one to sit idle, she and Jerome worked together to open an antique and gift shop in downtown Corsicana. Dorothy was tireless in her efforts to promote tourism. She also served on the American Heart Association, the Corsicana/Navarro County Chamber of Commerce tourism committee, and as secretary of Kinsloe House.

Love for her church, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, was a huge part of her life, and she also served two terms on the board of directors for James L. Collins Catholic School.

She and Jerome loved traveling to foreign countries, camping with family, and family reunions and gatherings. Family was always the biggest priority in Dorothy’s life.

She was loved by many, largely because of her letter-writing, her encouraging e-mails, and her beautiful smile, which she gave freely. Dorothy loved reading, gardening, needlework, sewing, cooking, and anything creative. She loved her family, friends and former students.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home, with Rosary at 7 p.m. Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

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Deanna Brown may be contacted via e-mail at deanna@corsicanadailysun.com