Dorothy Bouvia Lusby

Dorothy Bouvia Lusby died June 3 at Comfort Haven Adult Family Home in Midland, Washington. She was 108 years old.

Born Dorothy Mary Keck March 13, 1911 in Biggsville, Illinois, Dorothy graduated from Monmouth College in 1933. She taught English for five years in Illinois followed by two years at Vaughn Union High School on the Key Peninsula, and then for another 23 years at Peninsula High School. 

In 1936, Dorothy married Robert Bouvia in Fulton, Illinois. After his death, she married Gordon W. Lusby in 1965. Gordon died in 1995.

She became a world traveler after retiring from teaching in 1971 and visited China, Spain, Russia, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Scandinavia and many other places. She enjoyed oil painting and original composition, crochet, reading and journaling, and singing in local groups.

Dorothy attended almost every Peninsula High School reunion she was invited to over the years, and came to many lunches with PHS alums. Each March her birthday was celebrated at those lunches, the last one being when she turned 106. 

She is survived by her son Brian R. Bouvia (Gail), grandsons Ian Bouvia (Sutathip) of Kent, Brendan Bouvia of Wauna and Erron Bouvia of Tacoma; great-grandchildren Jordan Stephanie Marguerite Bouvia, both of Wauna; stepchildren Eldon Lusby (Diana) and Gary Lusby (Karen); step-grandchildren Sara Mayo of New York, Mike Cawthon, Erin Lusby, Devon Lusby and Heather Brunkow (Rob), niece Jere Litwiler of Illinois, nephew Bill Fargusson (Martha) of California, and sister-in-law Marion Keck of Illinois.

A memorial service will be scheduled at Skyline Presbyterian Church in Tacoma in July.  Dorothy asked that contributions be given to the Shriners Hospital for Children in honor of Manfred Keck, her deceased nephew of California.