Dortha Hayes Elms, 83, of Stanton, died on Saturday, November 24, 2001 in a local nursing home. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM Tuesday, November 27, 2001 at First Baptist Church with Dr. Frankie Rainey, pastor of Crestmont Baptist Church of Burleson, Texas and Rev. David Harp, pastor, First Baptist Church of Stanton, officiating. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland. She was born on March 30, 1918 in Coalgate, Oklahoma. Dortha was first married to Johnie F. Hayes in 1935 and lived in Stanton from 1951 to 1963. He preceded her in death in 1960. She then married Milton E. Elms in 1966 in Midland. He preceded her in death in 1994. She graduated from the Odessa College nursing program in 1956 and worked at Midland Memorial Hospital from 1953 to 1966. Dortha ended her nursing career as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society in Mullin, Texas, where she lived from 1973 to 1994. Dortha had moved back to Stanton in 2001.She was a member of First Baptist Church in Stanton. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Mack and Barbara Hayes of Kennewick, Washington; two daughters and sons-in-law, JoAnn and Earl Henson and Cleta and Joe Barber all of Stanton; one sister and brother-in-law, Norma and Ralph Garwood of Weatherford; one son-in-law, Gary Callaway of Paris; eight grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Esther Wanell Callaway in 2000, and two grandsons, Stephen and Jim Bob Henson The family suggests memorials to the First Baptist Church Library Fund, 200 W. Broadway, Stanton, Texas 79782 Arrangements under the direction of Gilbreath Funeral Home.,
