Dorothy (Dot) Richards Garnette

Dorothy (Dot) Ann Richards Garnette died on October 31, 2025 of natural causes (she believed every obituary should list a cause of death). She was born December 12, 1934 in Washington DC to Dorothy Rosemary Glover Richards and John C. Richards (Soika). Dot was also raised by her beloved grandmother, Elsie Glover. Growing up in East Tennessee, she was proud of her Irish and Appalachian heritage. She graduated from Texas Women’s College and attended graduate school at the University of Georgia. Sometimes life does not unfold as planned and Dot found herself a divorced, single mother with twin five-year olds (Cindy and Lindy) and a six-week-old (Laura). Her solution? Build a Garnette team that would always stick together and navigate the world together. Dot was always a fiercely independent woman, who never remarried. She never quite accomplished being the compliant, congenial southern woman she was raised to be, and navigated the world as a single woman who loathed having to answer to anyone. One of Dot’s favorite musicals was Man of LaMancha and she fancied herself to be a Don Quixote – tilting windmills and fighting for the underdog. Through the years, she taught her daughters to be kind, independent and self-sufficient.

To support her family, Dot began her professional career with the Department of Public Welfare in Bristol, Virginia working with adoptions and foster care. She attended Virginia Commonwealth University (full scholarship) to pursue her Master’s Degree in Social Work and moved her family to Richmond, Virginia far from family and friends. While Dot pursued graduate studies, the three girls pitched in to help - dying all of Dot’s underwear pea green while doing laundry. Wanting her to know how much she was loved, the girls threw her a surprise birthday party inviting her friends from school. Waking up from one of her infamous naps, Dot sashayed down the steps from her bedroom, dressed only in that pea green underwear, to see multiple friends waiting to celebrate her. Upon being awarded her MSW, all four Garnette’s accepted her hard won degree.

The majority of Dot’s career was with the VA Hospital. While working at the VA in Salem, Virginia, she started the first Hospice Unit – at that time, a new concept, to help patients and families cope and thrive as they faced terminal illness and death. She also started and facilitated a Make Today Count group for families and individuals dealing with terminal and life- threatening illnesses. Through these endeavors she helped countless people face death in positive and affirming ways.

Dot talked of being a “hippie” and wanting to change her name to Sunshine. She loved sunshine and spent many hours soaking up rays at the local pool where her children learned to love the sun and water as much as she did. In 1980 Dot decided California was where she belonged. Having never been west of the Mississippi, she accepted a transfer to the VA in Loma Linda California. She sold her house, many of her belongings and packed up her youngest daughter, Laura, her cat and some belongings in a U-Haul truck and trekked cross country in a trip worthy of a National Lampoon movie. She never looked back and would argue that she was a true Californian. She relocated to Capitola years ago to be closer to Laura and her family, and enjoyed many happy

years close to the ocean. The Turner-Garnettes provided much support and a safety net that allowed her to age with dignity and enjoy her independence.

Dot was a voracious reader, a formidable Bridge player, a lifelong volunteer and had a deep love for travel. She was able to tour the US, see much of Europe, go on many cruises, including Greece and visited her beloved Ireland.

The love and care Dot provided for her daughters came back to her throughout her life and especially at the end of her life. Laura, with the support of the rest of her family, the Turner- Garnettes, spent the last three months by her side and was a strong advocate, ensuring she received the care she needed and was as comfortable as possible. Within weeks of her death, all three daughters had the pleasure of being able to wheel Dot to the beach, enjoying her smile and peace as she soaked up the sun and ocean air she loved. She was surrounded by love until the very end, with all three by her side in the days before she died.

Dot was predeceased by her mother, grandmother, father and her King Charles Cavalier, Kalee, who was truly her “heart” dog. She is survived by her daughters, Cindy Garnette (Tracey), Lindy Perry-Garnette (Alma), Laura Garnette (Cherie), eight grandchildren, Benjamin, Leslie, Charlie, Caleb, Gracie, Elijah, Ethan, Bailey, and four great-children. Also surviving are her soulmate, Myra Center and best friend Ellen Cope.

According to Dot’s wishes, at a later date, Cindy, Lindy and Laura will together cast her ashes into the ocean she loved. No service is planned.

“And I know if I’ll only be true to this glorious quest, that my heart will lie peaceful and calm, when I’m laid to my rest. And the world will be better for this…” Dot, you left the world a better place than you found it and your spirit lives on in Cindy, Lindy and Laura.

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