Dorothy Broadaway

Dorothy Vivian Evans Broadaway, 94, passed away peacefully Wednesday, October 5, 2022, in Amarillo.

Dorothy was born on March 14, 1928, to William West “W.W.” and Grace Irene Goad Evans on their farm near White Deer. She was the second of their three daughters. She graduated from Panhandle High School in 1944.

On September 25, 1946, Dorothy and John Thomas “J. T.” Broadaway were married at the First Baptist Church in Panhandle. The children born from their marriage were Linda Jo Purvines (Bill) of Panhandle, Dianne Padgett (Carl) of Houston, and John Baron “Barry” (Sue Ann) of Fritch.

Dorothy and J.T. loved to travel, as a couple, and with their children. They passed that love of travel to their grandchildren by way of “Grandkid Trips”. Journeys across the country were adventure-filled occasions for their eight grandchildren – from San Diego to Washington, D.C., and many points in between.

Honors and Achievements

Dorothy constantly pursued knowledge and loved to learn.

She graduated from West Texas State with a BS degree in June 1949.

She received her MA degree from West Texas State in August 1955.

She also received her Teacher’s Certificate from West Texas State in August 1955.

She began teaching English and Speech at Panhandle High School in the fall of 1955. She later worked in Amarillo Independent School District for many years as a speech therapist. She retired in the mid-1980s from AISD as Special Education Supervisor.

Dorothy was selected as Citizen of the Year in Panhandle in 2002.

Clubs and Organizations

Dorothy was active in:

West Texas State Alumni Association

Panhandle Parent Teacher Association

Altrurian Club

Carson County Republican Party

First Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church

Panhandle High School reunions

Texas Retired Teachers Association

Preceding Dorothy in death were her parents, her husband, her sister Mary Ruth, her son Barry, and her son-in-law Carl.

Survivors include her sister Billie Ray Williams of Panhandle and her sister-in-law Juanna Jo Hale of New Caney; children Linda and Bill Purvines, Dianne Padgett, and Sue Ann Broadaway; eight grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Saturday, October 15, at 10:00 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, Panhandle, with interment to follow at Panhandle Cemetery under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle. The family will receive friends Friday, October 14, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the funeral home in Panhandle.

The family suggests memorials be to West Texas A&M University, Carson County Square House Museum or the charity of your choice.