Dorothea C. Hellon

Dorothea C. Hellon, 90, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, passed away on February 28, 2024. A memorial service for Dorothea will be held on Friday, March 8, 2024 at Heartland Cremation & Burial Society, Raytown, MO. The visitation begins at 2pm, followed by a memorial service at 3pm.

Dorothea was born in Mounds, IL on December 21, 1933 to Harry H. and Lillian Henry. She went to Catholic School in Cairo, IL. Dorothea enjoyed her early life in a small town. She often talked about, how before school, she would walk downtown and have breakfast at a café next to her parent’s shop. Dorothea’s father had a typewriter repair business and taught music. Her mother did clothes alterations. The family moved to Cape Girardeau, MO before moving to St. Louis MO where she attended St. Mary’s South Side Catholic High school. Dorothea excelled in school and graduated early. After high school she attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Giradeau, MO.

Dorothea had several jobs in her lifetime, but one she remembered fondly was an interior design job where she travelled to New York City to decorate a new office space. Another time she travelled to New Jersey to open a retail business. Throughout her life Dorothea owned several businesses including Country Chrysler in Harrisonville, MO and D & R Auto sales in Kansas City, MO. For almost the last 40 years she provided accounting services for small businesses out of her home. She specialized in convenience store/service stations. She also did tax preparation during tax season. Many of her clients came back every year, including generations of their families. Over the years her clients became her family some even calling her mom. She always looked forward to seeing them. Dorothea loved the Kansas City Chiefs and would never miss a game on TV. She loved going to casinos in Kansas City and around the Midwest. She also made numerous trips to Las Vegas. If the stories are to be believed we wonder how the casinos managed to stay open with all the money she won from them.

Her primary love, besides her family, was her dogs. She always had at least two. Dorothea loved her dogs so much that in her mid 60s she purchased a motorhome so they could travel with her on her trips around the Midwest and Las Vegas.

Dorothea was preceded in death by her father, Harry, Mother, Lillian; Brothers, Harry Jr., Harold, and Harvey; and her sisters, Lillian Francis, Dorothy Francis(6yrs), and Dorothea (1yr). She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Barbara Reed. She is survived by sons, Robert (Sandra) Olms and Steve (Darece) Hellon and son-in-law, Bill Reed; Grandchildren; Kristina, Jennifer, Hannah, Danielle, Garrett, Emily and Benjamin and 9 Great-Grandchildren.

In keeping with her wishes, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Whispering Hills Senior Dog Sanctuary, Hermitage MO.