Dorethy A. Speakes

Dorethy A. Speakes, 63, of St. Joseph, passed away, Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville.  A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 11:00 A.M. Monday, May 5, 2014 at St. Augustine’s  of Canterbury Episcopal Church, 1753 Union St., Benton Harbor, with Rev. Dan Scheid officiating.  Memorials may be made to St. Augustine’s of which she was a member.  Those wishing to sign Dorethy’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Dorethy is survived by her brother Ronald (Donna) Speakes of Washington D.C., nephews Michael Speaks, Phoenix Arizona and Ron Speaks of Warner Robbins, Georgia; niece Ingrid Friedrich of Darmstadt, Germany; special friends Sara Carlson, Jackie Curtis and Priscillia Banghart; and her bunny Jumping “Jack” Flash.  She was preceded by her parents Albert and Ruth (Dollar)  Speakes and her brother Richard.  Dorethy graduated from Coloma High School and Lake Michigan College.  Dorethy was active and involved in many local churches throughout her lifetime, most recently the parishes of St. Paul’s and St. Augustine Episcopal churches. In the early ’70’s Dorethy was part of Circle Church – a local charismatic church in Berrien County that started with a home bible study and grew to affect the lives of many young “Jesus”people.  Dorethy had a heart after God.  In the late ’70’s she joined Youth With A Mission (YWAM), an interdenominational Christian mission organization, and completed a Discipleship Training School in Tyler, Texas.  A year later she went to a YWAM school in England to further her missionary training. By 1985 Dorethy had joined YWAM full time, working with missionary training schools in Liverpool and later St. Helens, England.  She staffed and led YWAM training schools throughout many countries in Europe for over 10 years.  Along the way she met a great host of friends and she shared her heart and life with them.  Many became lifelong friends. Dorethy is remembered by all as a quiet, thoughtful, talented, seeker after the heart of God who lived to make a difference and share the love of Jesus with those she met.  She was a talented artist drawing intricate, freehand designs and one of a kind creations.   After returning to Michigan, Dorethy worked as a skills trainer at Gateway in Berrien Springs for 12 years until poor health forced her to retire.  She always served her Gateway friends with a compassionate heart of dedication, acceptance and leading by example of her gentle life.  She was a second Mother to several special friends from Gateway whom she loved dearly. There are volumes that can be said and written about this great woman.  Her family, her friends, and those who knew her in this hemisphere and across the great pond are all saddened by the loss of this sister, aunt, and special friend.  Rest in peace dear Dorethy – you have won your race.  We know your reward is great.