Dorothy Mae "Dot" Marty

It is with deep sadness that we announce Dorothy (Dot) Mae Marty passed peacefully at Meriter hospital in Madison Wisconsin after a courageous battle with autoimmune vasculitis of her lungs and kidneys. She was surrounded by her loving family. Dot was born June 27th 1940 in Waynesburg Pennsylvania. She had a large family, they survived and thrived in the rural poverty of the Appalachian coal mining town. At the age of 17 through friends and family in Chicago and Madison she met the love of her life Medford (Mike) Marty. She always said she knew the night they met, she would marry him. After dancing all night together that first evening, six months later, they eloped. Together they raised three rambunctious children on the west side of Madison in the red brick home our dad built. Our beloved mom was an all-around iconic wife and mother. She and Mike let the “kids be kids,” building a dirt bike track, baseball diamond, hockey rink, forts, and homemade skateboards. When we would fall or wipe out she knew how to handle the worst road rash, deep cuts, large bruises and no injury, concussion or seizure would rattle her. She was a leader of Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Sunday school teacher, Bible school teacher, Little League Auxiliary chairwoman, PTA President, as well as, the favorite lunch lady. Her warm heart, huge smile, sparkling blue eyes, delightful sense of humor, and magnetic personality welcomed all the neighborhood kids and high school friends to our house at anytime. Christmas eve parties were a standing tradition as were many other large backyard gatherings and daily wiffle ball or Monopoly tournaments all summer long. Dot was very active in many community organizations with bowling leagues, charter member of the Madison Knitting Guild, Red Hat Ladies, American Girl volunteer, numerous other church, community and school committees. She attended the Madison Academy of Cosmetology and went on to become a Master Stylist for many years. Her schedule was booked solid for the 35+ years she worked. She was an important part of many generations of families styling them for everyday and all their special events. Dot happily would go to homes, hospitals, nursing facilities or Hospice to style her many clients as needed. She was the penultimate baker, chef, knitter, seamstress and card shark. She taught her children and grandchildren how to bake pies, cakes, make pickles and jelly, knit, sew, play cribbage/euchre/poker. Dot and Mike loved to travel near and far, enjoying picnics at the lakes, countryside or ballfields, as well as, all over the country and abroad. Some of their favorite trips were on cruises back in the seventies with their movie star good looks or on gambling trips together with her sisters and nieces. Even though she worked full-time, ran a tight ship at home our mom and dad would cheer us on at every football, baseball, hockey game, and every gymnastic and track meet. Their love of sports carried them often to the Little League, College and MLB World Series tournaments. Our mom was a hoot to watch sports with, she knew the game, the strategy, the players, the coaches, the teams and never held back cheering and coaching from the recliner.

Dot was full of boundless energy and selfless unlimited love. Above all, what is most memorable is her kindness, generosity, charisma, delightful sense of humor and unrelenting optimistic enthusiasm, with the precise amount of orneriness when it was needed. She was not afraid to go to bat for any of us, up against the teachers, the principals, the police or the mean lady who lived next door.

Dot is survived by her three children: Trenten (Kathryn) Marty, Terri Marty (Erich Roeber) and Joseph (Maria) Marty. Her ten grandchildren: Andrea Marty (Mike Gorack), Ryan (Carly) Marty, Michael Marty, Matthew Marty, Heidi Roeber (Alexander Metzger), Elsa Roeber, Chase Marty, Taylor Shager, Elliot Shager, and Phoebe Marty. Along with two great grandchildren: Greyson Gorack and Alexander Marty. She is survived by her sister Beverly (Umit) Basoglu and brother Charles (Cynthia) Artis. Missie her devoted dog survives her, as well as, numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded by her beloved husband of 64 years Medford Marty, her parents; brother William Artis, sisters Jacqueline Childers, Lydia Corn and Vera Estep. Private funeral services are planned. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Dot’s name may be mailed to Cress Funeral Home.

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406