Dorothy Mae Kratz

Dorothy Mae (Schaefer) Kratz, age 94, passed away on March 22, 2025. She is the daughter of the late Otto B. Schaefer and Sarah Sadue Schaefer. She is also preceded in death by her brother Otto (Sonney) R. Schaefer. She was born on December 27, 1930, and raised in Clear Springs, Texas on Lake Dunlap. She graduated in 1949 from New Braunfels High School. In 1949, she attended college at the University of Texas in Austin where she was appointed Honorary Cadet Lieutenant Colonel for the Air Force ROTC. In 1950, Dorothy was initiated into the Omega Chapter of Alpha Phi Sorority. She received her college degree from the College of Business Administration known today as the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. Dorothy married Jeremiah F. Kratz at the First Protestant Church in New Braunfels on June 7, 1952, where they were both members. They settled on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in Grasonville in 1968 where they lived on Little Greenwood Creek for 29 years while raising five children. In 1997, they relocated to Trappe, MD (Windy Hill) on the Choptank River where they lived for 20 years. Dorothy and Jeremiah were married for 64 years until his passing on February 25, 2017. Dorothy was a dedicated and devoted homemaker and a wonderfully, talented seamstress. She loved living near the water and found joy in the serenity of nature. She was also passionate about gardening, nurturing life and beauty in her hands. Being outdoors brought her great happiness. She was the embodiment of love, kindness, and strength, always putting others first. With her sweet nature and gentle spirit, she had a way of making everyone feel special, loved, and cared for. Her kind soul and sweet nature will be missed by all who knew her. Dorothy leaves behind a legacy of love, warmth, and devotion that will live in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Dorothy was the heart of our family. She is survived by her five children: James F. Kratz (Lynn) of Lakewood Ranch, FL; Catherine C. Bornhoeft (John) of Henderson, MD; Christina K. Warren (PD St. John) of Queenstown, MD; Cynthia J. Phillips (Scott) of Salisbury, MD; and Samuel J. Kratz (Pari) of Towson, MD as well as eleven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Dorothy Mae Kratz

December 27, 1930 - March 22, 2025