Dorothea McElroy Fairchild, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and child of God, passed away on October 11, 2026, at the age of 86. She was born in Eldorado, Oklahoma.
Dorothea loved praising and worshiping the Lord, and she sang to Him throughout her life—even up until the day she passed. She sang in her church choir, taught Sunday school, and devoted many years to working with children. She was always ready to talk about Jesus. She once told her husband, James, that she would not marry him unless he was saved—and, as she liked to say, he got saved!
Her family was always in her heart. She worried about her grandchildren and prayed for them constantly. Dorothea also loved painting, fishing, family outings, animals, dominoes, and playing cards—sometimes with a little playful cheating. Generous and helpful, she gave what she could to anyone who needed it. She was a good businesswoman, fair and honest, and had a special way of making everyone feel valued and loved. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Dorothea was preceded in death by her parents, W.V. McElroy and Goldie Medford McElroy; sisters Baby McElroy and Joyce V. Smith; brothers Wayne, Jerry, and Marvin McElroy; son Daniel Yoakley; and grandsons Anthony “Tony” Fernandez and Cody Walding.
She is survived by her husband, James Fairchild; daughters Theresa and her husband, Ronnie Parnell, and Lisa and her husband, Joel Michna; stepchildren David, Angela, and Wade Moss, Renei York, and David Fairchild; and grandchildren Troy, Jessie, Amanda, Crystal, Jennifer, Jessica, Billy, April, Brittney, T.J., Makayla, David Moss Jr. and Ann Deweese. She also leaves numerous great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Pallbearers: Anthony Fernandez Jr., Daniel Fernandez, Johnathon Hill, Tristin Kaylor, Cooper Jackson, and Clay Jackson