It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dorothy Carol Kennard on January 15, 2021. She had been living at Golden Gardens Assisted Living Facility in Fallbrook. Dorothy passed quietly in her sleep with the Hospice Nurse present.

Dorothy was the oldest child of Grant and Beulah (Messer) Longacre and was born in Needles, California. Her siblings are Malinda, Randall and Thomas. She married Neil Kennard and raised her family in Needles until they moved to Fallbrook, California in 1970.

Dorothy had always wanted to be a nurse (she grew up reading Cherry Ames, RN books). When her children started college at Palomar Community College in San Marcos, she also went and with her family's encouragement and support, earned her RN degree. She then got a job as a Labor/Delivery/Nursery nurse at Fallbrook Community Hospital and worked there until she retired when she was in her early 70's. She loved her job. She made wonderful friends among her co-workers, loved helping her mommies, and loved taking care of her babies. Through the years, she often saw her babies as they grew up in town and it always made her proud and happy that she was part of their beginnings.

Dorothy also loved returning to Needles every March to attend the annual High School reunion. She spent many happy weekends with her classmates, flitting about like the social butterfly she was!

She also spent as much time as she could visiting with her family. She loved traveling with them to Hawaii, American Samoa, Yosemite, Mt Hood in Washington, Boston, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Canada and to Europe with her son, David, and daughter, Katherine. Traveling was always an adventure with her - she really didn't believe planes could fly and she hated leaving her cats and dogs at home - but once there, she enjoyed her trips, had a glorious time and made many wonderful memories. She also looked forward to spending time with David's Dutch family and his German friends and they felt the same about her. They loved her and her sense of humor.

She was lucky enough to celebrate her Golden 50th Anniversary with Neil before he passed away 8 years later. She spent her free time finishing her crossword puzzles (she did 3 per day), watching old movies and comedies, and listening to her classical music.

She is survived by her four children, Melissa (and Larry), David (and Janet), Katherine (and Bob), and John (and Innessa) along with her five grandchildren - Sean, Liane, Evan, Haley and Anna. Her sister, Malinda and one brother Thomas also survive along with many beloved nephews and nieces.

Dorothy's sense of humor and devotion to her family and friends will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.