Dottie passed away on July 21st at the amazing age of 102! She was quite well known throughout Glenn and Butte Counties. The employees at Cathy's & Honey Run always looked forward to Dottie's regular visits and memorable hugs. Each time she'd come in, we knew it would be for another denim quilt and/or apron that she was making.

Her daughter, Kerrie, writes:

Dottie was an amazing seamstress. Growing up I don’t remember her ever not sewing. She said it relaxed her. She always had an area set up with her machine and other tools so she didn’t have to take them down and set them up again. After I left home, she converted my bedroom, which was a big room, into a sewing room. She had a table made from the closet doors that is quite large to lay out fabric for cutting. She fixed a yardstick to two sides to help with measurements. There is an ironing board set up. She put a dresser in one part of the closet – that no longer had doors – which held patterns that go back to the 40’s. There was also room in that closet to hang clothes in progress or that she had finished.

Mom made poodle skirts for my sister in the fifties. For my sister’s wedding, mom made Jacquie’s wedding dress, her maid of honor’s dress, my flower girl dress, and the dress mom wore to the wedding.

She made my dad’s western shirts with the yokes and had a special tool to put the snaps on. She made a barmaid outfit for a costume party she and daddy went to. She won first place for the women. I've included a picture of that outfit.

When we would go "school clothes shopping," we would go to the stores and see what was in style. Then, we would go to the fabric store and buy fabric and patterns. I used to pray for a store-bought dress. LOL! My clothes were always in fashion. Actually, it was very cool that my clothes were different fabrics because we didn’t buy off the rack.

I remember in the early 70’s – disco days – mom made herself a skirt and vest out of white crinkly vinyl. She was way cool!

Mom made all my bridesmaid dresses for my first wedding – they were all southern belle style with big hoops. She made my dress for my second wedding and my daughters bridesmaid dresses. I included pictures of those.



Mom made beanbag chairs from infant size to a huge size that two adults could comfortably sit in.

For the last several years she began sewing on denim. She would cut up used jeans and make aprons and lap blankets. She gave them away and many of our friends have them. She never met a stranger, so there are many people I don’t personally know who have them.

Obituary

Dorothy June Czarnek (better known as Dottie) was born June 8th,1922 in Loop City, Nebraska to George & Clara, the first of 6 kids. 

They left Nebraska in 1934 to move to California. They settled in the San Marcos area. She met and married Ed Rose and they had Jacquie. After they divorced Dottie and Jacquie moved to Orland where her parents had relocated. This was 1942.

Dottie married Bob Howard July 3rd, 1945. They married in Reno and then left for Willits where Bob participated in the 4th of July rodeo. Their son, Larry, was born in 1948 and their daughter, Kerrie, in 1951.

Dottie has always been very active in clubs and the community. She worked for JC Penney’s before she met Bob. After they married, she clerked for the Orland Auction Yard owned by Bob and partners Ivan and Aaron Stockton. She and Bob owned the Willows Livestock Auction Yard in the 50’s and besides clerking the sales she managed the cafe there. She and Bob belonged to the Orland Riding Club, and Orland Rifle Club, (from which she has many medals for sharpshooting), she was in Orland Jr Womens - very active with the March of Dimes, and she performed in various musicals and plays the club put on. Dorothy was a founding member of the Glenn - Colusa Cowbelles in 1960 now known as the Glenn-Colusa Cattlewomens. Dottie was named Cowbell of the Year in 1984. She was an avid hunter and shot her last buck In Colorado at the age of 92. She has been a member of the NRA for so many years they sent her a plaque naming her an NRA legend. She bowled in many leagues over the years and had continued bowling until Covid hit. She belonged to a bridge club and played weekly for many years. Dottie was an amazing seamstress and made many of her own clothes, Bob’s western shirts, and clothes for her kids, grandkids and great grandkids, including wedding and bridesmaid dresses. She was involved with the beginnings of the Glenn County Fair Jr Livestock Auction in 1955 and clerked the sales for many years. She also clerked other livestock shows at the fair and for horse shows in Butte County. In 2022 she was Grand Marshall of the Glenn County Fair parade. 

Dottie never met a stranger, and her hugs were legendary. She is survived by her daughters Jacquie and Kerrie,10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren, her siblings Dee Hawks, Darlene Martinez, David Czarnek and numerous nieces and nephews. There is no way to count the number of honorary sons, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that she claimed. She loved you all! She was pre-deceased by her husband, Bob; her son, Larry, her great-grandson, Connor Krantz and siblings George Czarnek and Darenna Conner. We are grateful to her caregivers Angela Metzger and Janet Leavell for their amazing and loving care of Dottie.