Mrs. Dorothy May Laws Steen, age 91, of Hockessin, DE, died peacefully at home on Monday, March 26, 2012 with her 3 daughters by her side.
Doe, as she was known all her life, was born in Middletown, DE of September 26, 1920, daughter of the late J. Theodore and Ethel (Wilson) Laws. She graduated from Middletown High School in June 1938. She married Paul Donald Steen, on Christmas Eve 1941. A dedicated homemaker, Doe and her family moved around the country until her husband retired from DuPont in 1975. She moved back to New Castle County after Paul’s death in 1982. She became and active and long-time member of the Red Lion United Methodist Church serving as a Trustee and devoted member of the Ladies’ Aid. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed reading up to the time her eyesight diminished.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Joseph T. Laws, and her two sisters, Gertrude L. Foltz and Beatrice L. Brannner. A loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Doe will be dearly missed by her children, Donna S. Murray and husband, Vic of Selbyville, DE; Bertie S. Galpin and husband, Larry of Newark, DE; and Barbara A. Steen of Hockessin, DE; granddaughters, Margo S. Galpin and husband, Nick Prunty of Brooklyn, NY; Dr. Lauren E. Galpin and husband, Dr. Andrew Maclennan of Denver, CO; and great-grandsons, Henry Joseph Prunty and Walter Finn Prunty of Brooklyn, NY and Julian Galpin Maclennan of Denver, CO.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at R.T. Foard and Jones Funeral Home, 122 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19711, where friends and family may visit one hour prior to the service. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions in memory of Doe may be made to Red Lion Methodist Church, Heartland Hospice or the Delaware Division of the Visually Impaired, c/o the funeral home.