Dorothy Nell Wyper Tysinger was born July 29, 1915, in Koehler, N.M., to Agnes and Menzies Wyper. Menzies was a coal miner, so the family lived in various very small communities in Colorado and New Mexico. Because they moved often, Dorothy and her sisters Margaret and Ruby and brother Menzies were best friends as well as playmates.

Menzies was killed as a POW during World War II, but the sisters continued their close ties throughout their lives. The Wyper family eventually settled in Gallup, N.M., where Dorothy graduated from high school in 1932 and then went to work at the Gallup Mercantile as a bookkeeper.

Dorothy was married to Cletus James Tysinger July 8, 1941, in Albuquerque, N.M. They lived in Durango, Colo., where Jim was in the fur business with Ruby’s husband Lloyd. Dorothy and Jim eventually moved to California, settling first in Oceanside and then San Diego, where Jim was employed as a golf course superintendent at Camp Pendleton and La Jolla Country Club. In 1990, Jim and Dorothy moved to Washington to be closer to family. Jim and Dorothy celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 8, 1991.

Dorothy was a life time member of the Order of Eastern Star of Gallup, N.M. She enjoyed dancing with Jim, golf, sewing and knitting beautiful clothes.

Dorothy is survived by her nephews, Harry Turner and wife Gail of Oak Harbor and their family and Mike Lutich and wife Lupe of San Antonio, Texas, and their family and her extended loving family, Michele and Mark McKinley of McKinley’s North Whidbey Adult Family Home and her wonderful caregivers, Andrea, John Amanda and Sheena. Jim preceded her in death Oct. 21, 2001

Cremation was held with inurnment to follow at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, Calif. Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.