June 29, 1938 —January 25, 2025
With heavy hearts, we share that Dortha Hall of Kingsland. Texas, beloved matriarch and effervescent soul, peacefully departed Earth at 9:15 pm on Saturday, January 25th. Her earthly journey ended with her family’s love in her heart and voices still ringing in her ears. Dortha is survived by her daughters Donna (Gary) Herring and Suzy (Aldo) Rivera: granddaughters Brenda (Bethany) Stevens, Katey (Antonio) Zea. andKliris (Nathaniel Child) Welch; greatgrandsons Roman, Dwayne, and Lincoln: sister Mina Council Maxwell: and loads of other treasured family and friends. She was predeceased by her parents Henry and Opal Council, husband Larry Hall, grandson Dwayne Herring. great-grandson Jaxon Stevens, and brother Melvin D. Council.
Dortha was bom on June 29. 1938. in Tishomingo, OK. She lived much of her life in Garland. TX. working hard to raise her daughters, striving to give them everything she could. Overcoming many obstacles in her life, she rose within Texas Instruments to be a traveling electronics teacher, out-soldering anyone. In 1986, she found her soulmate in Larry Hall, marrying him in 1987. Upon retirement, they hit the road as snowbirds, spending winters in the valley making beautiful and long-lasting friendships, causing trouble, and playing card games. Each year, as the heat started to build, they packed up and mosied toward cooler climates, traveling the country to soak in as much natural beauty as they could, even bringing their grandkids along for some of their adventures. Throughout their travels. some places held a special place in her heart, including Kenwood in La Feria. TX. There, she met her best friend and partner in crime. Ruth Siegfried, playing community games, getting all dressed up for meals and events, and generally causing a ruckus. As her travels wound down, she adored filling her time and spirit at the Kingsland Senior Center, playing 42 and Bunko, sharing meals and laughter, and continuing her mischievous and rowdy energy.
Dortha loved her dogs, all tilings sweet (especially Beil and Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream), gold jewelry, music. dancing, and the beach (though you’d never catch her in the water). She added vibrancy to everything she touched whether through her many artistic gifts, infectious laughter. or well-known straight talk. Dortha was ail avid, skilled, and incredibly competitive game player, especially at her personal favorite, 42. Every year at family vacation she’d show up with a new card game to teach all her “kids” (or sometimes just questionable modifications to already well- loved games). She never took it easy on her opponents, even her young grandkids. so once you beat her, you’d truly earned it. Dortha was not one to play by anyone else's rules. Never one to miss out. she was down for almost anything. from white water rafting to going cup for cup with her grandkids in beer pong, leaving those she loved with so many beautiful memories.
No words can fully describe Dortha's spirit. She didn't do anything halfway, loving and living with her whole heart. She was a special and funloving lady, a great friend, a hoot, a mess. and. even though she never believed it. she was smart, resilient, and irreplaceable. Dortha brought joy, energy, and laughter to everyone she met with her unrestrained passion for life, her friends and her family. Before the end of any interaction with any of her kids, she made sure they knew how proud she was of them and that she loved them 'SOOOOOO much”.
Thank you Mama, Gran Gran, friend, for the love, the laughter, the moments and the memories. Rest in peace knowing that your brilliant light continues to shine through everyone blessed to know you. We love you, we miss you, we are so proud of you, and we love you SOOOOOO much.
Amemorial service celebrating Dort ha’s life will be held on Sunday, April 13. 2025, at 2:00 pm at Packsaddle Fellowship. 508 Ranch Road 2900. Kingsland, TX 78639. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made m her name to Highland Lakes Senior Center. 351 W Chamberlain Street. Kingsland. TX 78639.
