Dorothy Jean 'Dotty' Wayt

Dorothy Jean Wayt (Dotty) was born July 24, 1922 in Greensfork, Indiana to her father, James Fisher and mother Della Carnine Fisher. She also had a brother, James Robert, two years older than Dotty. She passed away peacefully in her home in Cortez, CO at age 96 on Valentine’s Day, Thursday, February 14, 2019 to join her heavenly father, her longtime sweetheart, and other loved ones who had proceeded her in death.
Those of you who knew Dotty’s sweet smile and countenance may already know that she viewed her life as exceedingly blessed, exciting and filled with adventure. However, you may not know that there was a fair share of tragedy in Dotty’s life, which she said brought a depth of sadness to the soul so deep that one must either emerge stronger and more compassionate or succumb to. She was preceded in death by her husband after 61 years of marriage, Buford Wayt; her mother when Dotty was two years old; her father when she was a teenager; her brother, Bob, as an adult; and she suffered the premature loss of two promising young sons, Doug and Greg. She did emerge stronger and was a life model for all of us. Her belief was strong and she taught us that: “We can’t control everything that happens to us in life, but we CAN choose how we will react; and if we truly believe we can hold fast to these two promises from Holy Scriptures: 1) I will not give you more than you can bear; and 2) All things work together for good to those who believe.”
We were privileged to share her life with her. She is survived by her son, Brad Wayt and his wife Terry of Dolores, CO; Daughter-in-Law, Trina Lindig and her husband Nicky of Mancos, CO; grandsons: Ryan Wayt and wife Jessica of Fruita, CO, Devon Wayt and wife Claribel of Mission Viejo, CA, and Austin Gregory Lindig of Copper Mountain, CO. In addition she has five grandchildren: Chloe, Kelsie, Sammy, Ethan, and Liam, with a sixth on the way, Atlas.
Dotty’s life was exciting and filled with adventure. Before age two she and her family moved to Canon City, CO, as her mother had contracted tuberculosis and they were seeking a dryer climate. It was Depression times, and things were tough. Her mother passed away before Dotty was two. Her father bought and worked a two-chair barber shop and raised Dotty and Bob with the help of the community and friends, until when Dotty was 5 he remarried and added three half -brothers to the family: Donald, Clyde, and Carl. Dotty felt that she needed to be as self-supporting as possible and aid the family’s financial situation, so still in school, she started working at the age of 11 after school and some evenings as a babysitter for local families. Because Canon City is and was a prison town she had stories to tell about the dangers of walking home alone or with friends at night. She even got a provisional driver’s license before she was old enough to drive to help the families she was working with.
Her father passed away when both Dotty and Bob were teenagers, and her stepmother moved the younger boys east, but Dotty decided to stay in Canon City with the help of the community and friends. While still underage, she took a job as a lunch counter waitress in Pueblo on weekends, and would ride the train there and stay with relatives, then ride the train back to Canon City on Sunday to attend her high school classes during the week. When summer arrived (and still underage) she was able to find a fulltime job at the Royal Gorge.
She continued to work hard her whole life, and graduated as valedictorian of her high school class. She was able to attend Western State College in Gunnison, CO, on a scholarship and by working in the president’s office to pay her way. It was there that she met her soon to be husband, Buford Wayt after two years of college. A family soon came along (Doug and Greg). She supported Buford in his studies and teaching, and in 1950 they moved to Cortez where Buford started a band program for the schools, and Brad was born.
In 1955 she met Jack Hawkins who was starting a local radio station in Cortez, and began a long business career with him. She worked 17 years at KVFC where with six local newscasts a day they covered every local community and school event… from graduations to Kid’s Corner with Aunt Dotty & Uncle Charlie reading classic books to the children over the air. After that she worked at Cortez Travel Agency with Jack Hawkins, spurred by her desire to see new places and different cultures. She escorted tours in Israel, Panama, Costa Rica, Central America, South American, India, the Holy Lands, Russia, China, Thailand, Europe, and more. She believed that: “travel diminishes our common fear of the unknown, and in the long run proves how much alike we are.”
After the travel service she worked with Montezuma Realty Co., along with other ventures: a Hallmark Store, the JC Penney Catalog business, and an ice cream shop. She helped to organize Vectra Bank and served on its board, as well as other boards and committees: the Mental Health Association, Pueblo Community College, and the initial Hospital Board of Directors. She would humbly not mention all the accolades and awards she had received in her lifetime, such as Who’s Who in College, The Cortez Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award, and Colorado Mother of the Year Award. Even in her 90’s she was active in her community. She continued to serve on some of these boards, was an active member of PEO Chapter DD for more than 50 years, and worshipped and served God at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church for over 60 years. She worked with a builder to put up spec homes in Cottonwood Knolls, and helped others into their own businesses, which she said was one of the most gratifying parts of her later years.
Dottie was witty, charismatic, caring, bold, heroic, tactful, generous and strong. But most of all, she was kind, compassionate, and caring to all she met, and in doing so she taught us that: “Compassion gives meaning to life and a kind of lasting joy that transcends the rigors of daily living.” She told us that, “ As you grow older the need to feel that our lives have had purpose and meaning intensifies, but so does the realization that this is possible only through the lives of others… for we are all connected.”
She hoped to have mastered life’s lessons by the time her “graduation” rolled around and that she would, without regret and with a deep sense of joy, join her loved ones who had already preceded her. Then they would “move on to their next great adventure.” We are certain she has and that we will join her in those adventures someday!

Memorial contributions can be made to the Wayt Legacy Scholarship Fund at Vectra Bank, 350 W. Montezuma Ave., Cortez, CO 81321; 970-564-5108.