Dorothy Marie (Fleming) Songer (95) of Newton

Dorothy Marie (Fleming) Songer, age 95, of Newton, Illinois, passed away on November 11th , 2024 in Olney, Illinois.

Dorothy was born February 24, 1929 at Olney, Illinois to parents David Elmer and Elma Irene (Kurtz) Fleming.  She graduated from Richland/Olney High School in 1946. Dorothy worked at Kenny’s Cafe during high school and then at the Olney shoe factory.  On September 27, 1947, she married Clyde Leo Songer, who predeceased her on November 30, 2010.

Dorothy was a homemaker until Clyde was elected Jasper County Sheriff in 1954 at which time the family moved into the county jail in Newton.  At the age of 24 she found herself in the role of not only a wife and mom, but also the cook for the prisoners and the jail office assistant and radio dispatcher for the next 4 years.  Clyde and Dorothy had also purchased the little“Coffee Shop” which Dorothy managed for the year they owned it.

In 1958, Clyde was elected to the position of Jasper County Treasurer and Dorothy joined Clyde as his deputy.  Dorothy was then elected Jasper County Treasurer in 1966.  After this four-year term she was appointed by the Jasper County Board of Supervisors to become the Jasper County Supervisor of Assessments, a position she held until her retirement in 1994.

For over 70 years, Dorothy was a faithful member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Newton.  She enjoyed horseback riding and trail rides, country music and dancing, and assisting Clyde and the musicians at weekly community dances for over 3 decades.

Surviving are children Gail Songer Schafer, Dade City, FL; Marcia Songer Ochs (Elmer), Ste. Marie, IL; Roger Songer (Sue), Charleston, IL.  She also leaves 7 grandchildren: Christina Goble (Darrell Edwards), Bruce Ochs (Theresa), Angie Powell (Greg), Todd Ochs (Beth), Rachel Reed (Randy), Leah Songer Koltak (Charlie), Rebekah Songer (Brian); 16 great grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, five siblings, and grandson Thomas Schafer.

Funeral services celebrating Dorothy’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 16,2024, at the Crain Funeral Home, Newton, Illinois.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service in the funeral home.  Burial will be in the West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Newton, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dorothy’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter or to your favorite charity.