Dorothy Blythe "Dottie" (Dee) Lara was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in New Orleans, LA, the home of her parents. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in 1954, then followed her dream of becoming a registered nurse. She was proud to become a "Mercy Nurse" in 1957. She and George Lara married two weeks after her graduation from nursing school. They began their life together, driving to Kennewick, Washington, where George was stationed. The first of their six children was born there. Upon George's discharge, they returned to Louisiana, where George attained his degree in chemical engineering.

They moved to Duncan, Oklahoma, and it was their home for the next 52 years. Dottie was an active member of Assumption Catholic Church and the Savante Study Club. Volunteering at church was important to Dottie and gave her the opportunity to help with the youth group, and the Toy Shop, and to also help establish the church's food bank. After she became a widow, she was able to move to Tulsa, Oklahoma, near three of her daughters.

Dottie is survived by her children, Betsy Chavez, George Lara, Jr., Mary Guffey, Scot Lara, Lynne Baldwin, and Amy Tidwell; 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and brother, John "Jack" Joseph Dee, III. She was preceded in death by George Alvaro Lara, Sr., her husband of 65 years.

Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, January 4, 2023, 10:00 am., at Church of St. Mary, in Tulsa. Burial will follow at 12:30 p.m., at Fort Gibson National Cemetery.

Friends may honor Dottie with contributions to the charity of their choice.

Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151