Dorothy Jean (Montgomery) Cato

Graveside Services for Dorothy Jean Cato, 95, of Scranton, Arkansas will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 12, 2019 at Box Cemetery in Vian, Oklahoma under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service, Inc.

Dorothy Jean Cato departed this earth on Monday, July 8, 2019 in Dublin, Arkansas. She was born on March 18, 1924 in Altus, Arkansas to her parents, Jess and Mildred (Kemp) Montgomery. She was diagnosed with Polio when she was 2 years old. Her grandfather, Charley Montgomery, took her to Warm Springs, Georgia where she spend 6 months laying on her back to keep her back straight to try and help her walk. Then Charley took her to Tulsa, Oklahoma to the Crippled Children’s Home where she learned to swim to help work her legs. She spent time away from her family from age 2 to age 8 where she returned to Paris with her mother and father. She graduated from Paris High School. After graduating she applied for a night shift telephone operator in Paris and worked there fore several years. She moved to California and started working on a Naval Base as a physical counting clerk. There she met the love of her life, Andy Cato. They married April 18, 1947. Andy and Dorothy had been married for 58 years. She was also a member of the Blackgum First Baptist Church in Vian, Oklahoma.

Survivors are:

daughter: Linda Cato of Portland, OR

4 grandsons: Scott Sworden and wife, Crystal, of Vancouver, WA, Jeff Cato of Portland, OR, Phillip Cato and wife, Jessica, of Coal Hill, AR and Michael Cato and wife, Andrea, of Dublin, AR

4 great grandchildren: Gillian Sworden, Justice Cato, Mackenzie Cato and Hayden Cato

She was preceded in death by her husband: Andy Cato, 1 son: Richard “Rick” Cato, parents: Jess and Mildred Montgomery, 3 brothers: J.C. Montgomery, Harold Montgomery, Charles Montgomery and 3 sisters: Bernice Corley, Irma West and Donna Rogers.

Viewing will be 4 – 8 PM Wednesday and 10 AM – 8 PM Thursday at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw, OK.