Dorothy "Dottie" McGrew

Dorothy Ella Mathos McGrew, “Dottie”, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Georgina and Peter Mathos. Dottie, along with her younger sister, Carol, grew up in Homestead, Pennsylvania surrounded by her loving grandparents and cherished aunts and uncles.  Dottie was a proud graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School, class of 1954. She then went on to become the first person in her family to attend college at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was an avid reader and remained a lifelong learner.

On a momentous day on Eastern Nazarene’s campus, Dottie met a very personable young man, Daniel Bud McGrew, who would become her beloved husband for 61 years. Dottie and Dan would have celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary later this month.

Dottie and Dan were married in 1960. They returned to Ohio, Dan’s home state, to live as a newly married couple.  They settled in North Canton, Ohio, where Dottie worked at the Hoover Company.  Following moves to Chicago, Illinois and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, they finally returned to call North Canton, Ohio their home and raised their son, Jeffrey Daniel.

Dottie was an active participant in her community of North Canton. She channeled her commitment to service by joining P.E.O International which supported service to improve the lives of women.  Dottie was a member of the Women’s Board at Walsh University and Kent State University. She supported the League of Women Voters, the First Ladies National Historic Site, and presented theatrical interpretations of historical figures Calamity Jane and Lydia Pinkham.

Dottie’s faith in God was central to her core beliefs.  She was an active member of Christ Presbyterian Church in Canton, Ohio, where she served as church elder, and started several unique ministries, including prayer shawls for newly baptized infants, and the Welcoming Committee to welcome visitors to service on Sundays. 

In the 1990s, Dottie was a staff reporter and columnist for the Akron Beacon Journal, the North Canton Sun, and Our Town newspapers.  She also reported on North Canton news for WHBC radio in Canton. She covered North Canton City council meetings for over 20 years. City leaders and politicians would often seek her counsel because she was always an astute listener and trusted resource.

In 2004 and 2006, Dottie welcomed her grandchildren, Peter and Anna.  Dottie became “DeeDee” to them.  DeeDee made the most of her visits to Massachusetts when visiting her grandchildren; she would spend hours in the sandbox with toy earth moving equipment, or hours in the bedroom playing dress-up. She loved them dearly.

Dottie was blessed to have many friends in North Canton.  She was able to share her love for gardening and entertaining with her trusted friends.  She fondly would recall recipe development for plum pudding or red velvet cake with friends.  Attending a 3-hour lunch with the “lunch bunch” was a favorite activity!

The highlights of Dottie’s life involved vacationing in Sanibel Island, Florida, and traveling with her husband all over Europe, Ireland, Scotland, and the southeast/Washington DC corridor.

Dottie passed away peacefully in the presence of her husband and son. Dottie is survived by her beloved husband, Daniel, her son, Jeff, daughter-in-law, Dawn, and grandchildren Peter and Anna.  She also leaves behind her sister, Carol Walker, her sisters-in-law Nancy McGrath, Bonnie Lockwood, and Anne McGrew, many nieces and nephews, and an extensive and loving group of family and dear friends.