Dorothy Schapansky

Dorothy Jane Schapansky, 76, passed away on September 7, 2026, at Joplin Gardens in Joplin, Missouri. She was born October 14, 1949, at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, to Sgt. Maj. Darby Alexander (Buster) Gray and Geraldine Thelma (Spradlin) Gray. Raised in a military family, Dorothy spent her early years traveling before settling in Lawton, Oklahoma, where she graduated from high school in 1967.

Dorothy married N.B. Elam, Jr. in 1978 and graduated from Western Oklahoma AVTS Vocational School of Practical Nursing in 1979, beginning her career as an LPN. She worked for more than 20 years at the DOC Oklahoma and Clinton Division Oklahoma Veterans Center, dedicating her career to caring for others.

Following N.B.’s passing in 1992, Dorothy married Randy Schapansky in 1994. They lived in Sentinel, Oklahoma, until 2023, when Dorothy moved to Joplin, Missouri, to be closer to Randy’s family.

Dorothy never met a stranger and could talk your ear off if you gave her the chance. She found joy in cooking, baking, crocheting, plants, and especially her beloved cats. Her love of animals and the simple things in life brought her great happiness.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Sgt. Maj. Darby Alexander Gray and Geraldine Thelma (Spradlin) Gray; her brother, Darby Gray; her nephew, Lt. Conan Gray; and her first husband, N.B. Elam, Jr.

She is survived by her husband, Randy Schapansky; sister-in-law, Vickie Gray; nephew, Casey Gray; niece, Mollie Gray; and many other family members and friends who loved her.

A funeral service will be held at 6:00 p.m. on September 11, 2026, at the Randy Kiesau Memorial Chapel 2500 Modelle Ave. Clinton, Oklahoma, with visitation following at 7:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held at 9:00 a.m. on September 12, 2026, at Sentinel Cemetery, N. 2130 Road, Sentinel, OK 73664

Dorothy would not want those who loved her to simply mourn her. She would want you to carry on remembering her when you are cooking for the people you love, to smile when you use one of her many crocheted baby blankets, and perhaps to talk a little longer than necessary, because Dorothy certainly would have.