Dorothy Vadis Tubbs passed away on Wednesday, May 14, 2020 at Whispering Pines in Norton, KS, at the age of 103.

She was born the second child to Ernest "Tommy" Ames and Anna (Gebhard) Ames at their farm home west of Long Island, KS, on July 31, 1916.  Dorothy attended one-room schools Elk Creek and Dry Ridge Country School.  The kids could walk to school or ride a horse or drive a horse-drawn buggy as there was a barn at the school for the horses.  Dorothy graduated from Long Island High School as Salutatorian of her class of 13 students in 1934.

After graduation, she went to Hays, KS, where she took teacher's exams over fourteen different subjects to obtain a one-year teaching certificate.  She was hired to teach at Dry Ridge at a salary of $35.00 per month.  When teaching at Dry Ridge, one dust storm was so bad that she couldn't sweep out the dirt so the school board members came and scooped it out with shovels. Dorothy took the exams again the next year, raised her GPA and was hired to teach at her home school, Elk Creek, at a salary of $40.00 per month and $45.00 the next year.  She taught there for two years with from ten to twelve pupils.  She often spoke of pumping and carrying water inside, lighting the wood stove for heat on cold mornings and the terrible dust storms.

Dorothy began dating Dale Edward Tubbs in 1934, but he went to Denver to find work so they wrote to each other.  He enjoyed driving his 1932 Ford Roadster with a fancy top and a rumble seat back to Long Island to visit her.  Dale didn't care for city life so came back to Kansas and married Dorothy on August 18, 1937, in Phillipsburg, KS.  Having no work as a result of the severe drought in the area, they traveled with Dale's parents to Washington State to work in an uncle's apple orchard for seven weeks.  Dale was asked to operate a new Sinclair Gasoline Filling Station in Long Island and did so until March 1939--and then he ran the Coop Station until 1942.  Gas was selling for 18 cents per gallon or six gallons for a dollar.  Dorothy helped run the station while Dale drove the school bus and then worked in Hammond's Grocery Store with Mike Hammond.  She served on many election boards, worked with Ann Kneubel in her florist business, and helped with the school lunch program.

Their first son, Lloyd, was born in Long Island, KS, when they lived in "The Little Shingle House" near the school that was built by Dale's Grandfather Smith.  In 1942 Dale was ready to go back to farming and Dorothy thought, "Oh my, and give up electricity and running water and have to milk cows!"  Dale assured her she would not have to milk cows but she did raise huge gardens and preserved lots of fruit and vegetables for the family.  Kathie and Kevin were born while living on farms west of Long Island.  In 1966, Dale, Dorothy and Kevin moved into a new house in Long Island and she was happy to be back in town, continuing to tend a huge garden and flower bed.  Dorothy's hobbies included making quilts for each child and grandchild, and crocheting many afghans and doilies to give away.

Dorothy was baptized October 6, 1918, by Rev. Groseclose in the Lutheran Church and attended there until the last service was held in 1938.  She and Dale attended the Baptist Church for awhile and in 1947 became members of the United Methodist Church in Long Island, KS, where Dorothy is still a member.  She taught Children's Sunday School Class in both the Lutheran and Methodist Church and served in numerous capacities for the church and UMW.  She and Dale were actively involved in the decision to build a new church including drawing up plans for the proposed building. The new church was dedicated in 1974.

Dale and Dorothy enjoyed card parties with friends and traveling to all states in the U.S. except Alaska.  After Dale passed away in December of 2001, Dorothy continued to live in Long Island and appreciated having granddaughter Stephanie Tubbs help her with her garden and yard work.  Dorothy moved to Whispering Pines Independent Living in Norton, KS on August 18, 2007.  She loved it there and enjoyed playing bingo, dominoes, cards and quilting with new friends her age.  Dorothy says "I went through a lot in my lifetime…dust storms, tornadoes, droughts, and floods, but I've had a good life, a good husband, good kids, and a happy life."

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; brother Richard Ames and wife Wilhelmina; daughter-in-law Carol A. Tubbs; grandson Michael E. Tubbs; brother-in-law Don Tubbs & wife Doris; nephew Jerry Tubbs.

Dorothy is survived by two sons: Lloyd D. Tubbs and wife Shirley of Long Island, KS, and Kevin L. Tubbs and wife Mim, of Almena, KS; daughter Kathie E. Martin and husband Tom of Danville, CA; brother Marlin Ames and wife Velma of Salina, KS; grandchildren: Gail E. Tubbs of Lakewood, CO;  Kimberly Lawrence of Danville, CA; Carissa Batson and husband Phillip of Yukon, OK; Alicia Copper and husband Joey of Wichita, KS; Stephanie Kiersey and husband Shane and Mackenzie Hallman and husband Clay of Manhattan, KS; Thomas Ostmeyer of Austin, TX; Tamra Martin Williams of St. Louis, MO; Tim Martin and wife Janelle of Magnolia, TX; fifteen great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; five nieces and  two nephews, and many other relatives and friends.

Private family services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, 2020 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Ted Stapleton. The services will be streamed live on Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel's FaceBook page.  The burial will follow in the Long Island Cemetery, Long Island, KS.

Mrs. Tubbs will lie in state Sunday from noon until 9 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2 ^nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS  67661.

Memorials may be made to Whispering Pines or Long Island United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund.