Dorlis Runell (Harlan) Deaton, 93, of Lakeland, Florida and formerly of Montgomery and Putnam counties, was called to her eternal resting place on Feb. 13, 2024.
She entered this world June 22, 1930, in Metcalfe County, Kentucky, born to Gilbert and Bessie (Parrish) Harlan.
Dorlis attended school in Summer Shade, Kentucky. In 1959, she moved to Indiana and managed a truck stop east of Crawfordsville, where she met her husband, Frank Deaton. They were married on Oct. 7, 1963, at Crawfordsville.
Dorlis worked at RR Donnelley & Sons for some period of time, owned Phillips and Deaton Upholstery Shop, and then owned the Cracker Barrel Café in Waynetown. Dorlis moved to Putnam County in 1998 and was one of the four founders of Church by the Lake at Van Bibber Lake, in 2009.
After leaving the workforce, her passions included spreading the word of God and quilting. She loved to make Quilts of Valor for Veterans. She quilted for her family, friends, and even made clothing in her younger years.
In 2015 during Christmas, Dorlis moved to Florida and lived there for two years before returning to Indiana to be with her daughter and son-in-law, Vanessa and Monnie. On March 17, 2020, she moved back to Florida, this time with her daughter and son-in-law.
Dorlis will be deeply missed by her daughter and caretaker, Vanessa (Monnie) Carr; sons, Steward (Connie) England, Gerald Deaton and Bernard (Starr) Deaton; daughters, Shirley Harlan and Donna (Paul) Campbell; and siblings, Rebecka Bushong, Annetta Fields and Barbara (James) Cater. She loved her grandchildren, too many to name, and great-grandchildren, three times as many. If we were to sit here and mention each by name, we would still be here next week and still miss a few.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Frank; brother Delmar Harlan; and other family members.
A visitation will be held for Dorlis at Sanders Shoemaker Funeral Care, 202 Bratton Road, in Waynetown on Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. until the time of funeral service at 1 p.m., with Pastor John Wallen officiating. Burial will follow at Waynetown Masonic Cemetery. Sanders Shoemaker Funeral Care is entrusted with care.
Share memories and condolences online at www.SandersFuneralCare.com.
