Dorothy Mae (Cox) Russell

Dorothy Mae Cox Russell was welcomed to this world on March 9, 1928, in Dickens County, in the home of her maternal grandparents. She was the third child, and only daughter, of Meddie Viola Howell Cox and Luther Lois Cox who were then living at the Turtle Hole Camp of the Matador Ranch. Brothers W.O. Cox, L.M. Cox, Maurice Cox, and Dorothy. along with their parents, later moved to the Dugout Camp of the Matadors where they lived until the death of Luther in September of 1941. They lived a life of adventures on horseback and free wandering all the while developing an independent spirit and competence in all aspects of ranch life.

Dorothy attended Whiteflat Elementary School where she was valedictorian of her eighth-grade class. She graduated from Matador High School in 1946.

The romance and commitment of a lifetime began at a Valentine Day party in the home of Elwanda Martin where Dorothy met John Merwyn (Sonny) Russell. Within the year they eloped to Oklahoma and married on May 23, 1943. They had been married 63 years at the time of his death on October 9, 2006.

Dorothy Mae and Sonny had four children. Marilynn Gail Russell Hicks was born in Paducah, Texas, on March 23, 1944; Linda Aileen Russell Roy was born in College Station, Texas, on April 23, 1949; Caron Sue Russell Perkins was born in Terrell, Texas, on November 11, 1951; and John Douglas Russell was born in Colorado City, Texas, on March 18, 1965. Spouses who joined the family included Randy Hicks, Tom Roy, Jesse Perkins, and D’anna Smith Russell.

Dorothy was tenaciously loyal to causes in which she believed. One was Texas A&M. She had the heart of a genuine Texas Aggie developed while living in College Station where her husband studied and earned a degree. She waited a generation to see her progeny start graduating from her “Alma Mater.” She was also enthusiastic in her work with the Girl Scout organization in Mitchell County and the surrounding area where she attended leadership training and led troops. She dreamed of, created, organized, and physically sponsored a Girl Scout Day Camp many years. She also volunteered at Camp Booth Oaks in Sweetwater and received a recognition award for her work from that district.

Her most passionate project was raising her children and providing her family a Christian home. She was brought up by a Primitive Baptist mother and joined Sonny in the Methodist Church when they married. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Matador where she kept her personal space on the back right corner pew.

Often called Dot, Dorothy had a fiery stubbornness befitting her beautiful, curly, auburn red hair which in later years evolved into a strawberry blonde. She ran an efficient home and taught those skills to her children. She served three balanced sit-down meals to her family each day, required beds to be made, rooms in order, and children to be ready for the day before breakfast. She could design and construct designer clothes for herself and her children. She was an artist in fabric. Dorothy could also play a mean hand of 42. (You could usually lay down a hand after four rounds, and she could tell you the rest of the moves.)

Dorothy supported Sonny in his employment around the state of Texas and eventually came with him back to Motley County and Matador where they started. She was an equal partner in the work on their ranch property and loved it when Sonny worked and traveled for the Beef Council, and she could run things according to her plan. She could work cattle, mend or string fence, keep books, devise survival plans, and all the while train the next generation.

She is survived by doting grandchildren and their spouses: Kevin and Kim Hicks, Jason and Kimmie Hicks, Lara and Adrian Escobar, Emily and Paul Teegardin, Matthew and Kelly Roy, Luke and Sara Roy, Jeremy and Dana Perkins, Jessica White, Colton and Casey Russell, and Shane’a Russell. Great grandchildren include Jacy Hicks, Jacob Hicks, Hannah Hicks, Hailey Hicks, Jaxon Escobar, Isabel Escobar, Olivia Escobar, Malosi Roy, Rance Roy, Rose Roy, Ryan Roy, Emma Perkins, Audrey Perkins, Kate White, Abigail White, Lincoln Prinz, Cherokee Russell, Towns Russell, and Ryder Russell.

In quiet peace with her soul and the state of her family, Dorothy passed over in the early morning hours of March 16, 2022, in Matador, Texas.

Services will be at the First United Methodist Church in Matador, Texas, on Friday, April 22, 2022, at 2:00 in the afternoon, commemorating her 94 years of service to her family and her Lord. A brief service will follow at East Mound Cemetery.

There will be a gathering at Hotel Matador hosted by the family immediately following the burial. All are welcome and encouraged to come.

Memorials may be made to the Motley County Junior Livestock Show Herdsman Scholarship Fund, the Motley County Senior Citizens Association, or the East Mound Cemetery Association.