Dorothy Colleen Otero

Dorothy "Dottie" Colleen Otero (Bulger), 94, passed away peacefully on January 26th, 2024, in Tulsa, OK. Dottie was born September 11, 1929, in Baxter Springs, KS, the daughter of Robert Emmet and Goldie Frances Bulger (Brugger). Dottie and her little brother, Roland, attended a two-room elementary school in Baxter Springs. She went to high school in Columbus, KS where she was editor of the school newspaper and voted Homecoming Queen her senior year in 1947. From there, she attended Kansas State Teacher College in Pittsburg, KS where she was voted Apple Day Queen. In July 1951, Dottie drove with her cousin half-way across the country to Los Angeles, CA. On her first day in LA, she met the love of her life, Ramiro "Nino/Ray" Velez Otero. That night she and her cousin attended a nightclub where Ray sang to her the song 'B�same Mucho'. They wed on December 22, 1951, just five months later. The contrast of the farm girl from Kansas and the boy from luxury in Buenos Aires, Argentina, led others to say, "it will never last". They were happily married for almost 72 years. In her newlywed years Dottie worked as a secretary at the Bank of Hollywood on Hollywood & Vine where she frequently encountered movie stars. On the weekends, Dottie and Ray loved to ride in their 1954 MG convertible with the top down and drive it up the mountains to Big Bear Lake, where they had built a cabin. In November 1959 they welcomed their first child, a son, Stephen and in May 1961 they welcomed a girl, Valerie. They built a beautiful house on the hillside overlooking the city in the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles. Dottie did Ray's secretarial work for his architecture business and stayed home with the children. In summer 1971, after twenty years in California, they decided to move to Tulsa, OK to be closer to Dottie's parents in Baxter Springs, KS. They purchased a home in the Patrick Henry neighborhood where they lived for the next 47 years. Dottie loved to sew, garden, and spend time with her family. She loved animals, especially dogs. Dottie excelled at investing in the stock market and a variety of other financial opportunities. She was always young in mind and body and up to date with the latest technology and news. She was adored by everyone who knew her. She was a devoted wife, an admirable mom to her two children, a supportive and loving grandma to her grandchildren and the sweetest Gigi to her great-grandchildren. She is deeply missed but she will forever stay in our hearts and minds. In addition to her parents, Dottie is preceded in death by her husband Ray, and her brother Roland Bulger of Sallisaw, OK. She is survived by her son Stephen Otero (Julie) of Santa Barbara, CA, and daughter, Valerie Otero (Kirk) of Tulsa, OK, as well as her three grandchildren, Ryan Jennemann (Jairia) of Los Angeles, CA, Seth Jennemann (Lizzie) of Tulsa, OK, and Carly Jennemann (Jacob) of Tulsa, OK. She also leaves behind seven great-grandchildren, Rylee, Aizen, Ella, Lola, Xavier, Charlie, and Shalom. Along with many nieces and nephews. Following a private graveside ceremony in Baxter Springs, KS, a celebration of life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 25th, 2024, at her daughter Valerie's home in Tulsa, OK.

Dorothy Colleen Otero

September 11, 1929 - January 26, 2024