Dorothy Skaptason

Dorothy Alice Mitchell McArtor Skaptason, 103, died at Summit Hills Retirement Center in Spartanburg, SC on Saturday, December 23, 2018. She was a delightful, intelligent, and graceful lady, devoted to her family and to all the students whom she taught through her long career as an elementary and special needs teacher. Dottie, as she was known to her many friends, is survived by her three adoring grandchildren, Michael "Chip" McArtor, Grant McArtor and Christina McArtor; stepchildren, Joe (Mary) Skaptason, Jon Skaptason, Judith (Lance Goulet), and Jennifer Skaptason; daughter-in-law, Apryl Eshelman (Ed Chidiac) and their children, Nicholas, Thomas, and Elizabeth; nieces, Susan Fisher and Annette Chase Brinegar; nephew, Don (Fran) Person; great-nieces and nephews; longtime advisor and friend, Fess Crockett; Douglas (Amanda) Fast family; stellar team of caregivers, Mamie Smith, Kay Patterson, Pearlie Brinker-Prophett, Shirleen Porter, Argaetha Manigan and Roslyn Ferguson; and many close friends throughout the country. She was preceded in death by her only child, Michael McArtor; her husbands, Dr. Joseph Bjorn Skaptason and Mr. Walter Paris McArtor; her parents, Mr. Jesse Wood Mitchell and Mrs. Alma Mabel East Mitchell; and her siblings, John Russell Mitchell, Ruby Vivian Cummings, Julia Amanda Person, Robert Bentley Mitchell, Mary Elizabeth Wolfe, and William Albert Mitchell. She was born November 29, 1914 in Bedford, Indiana, and spent many years in Kansas City, MO, Tampa, FL, and Pittsburgh, PA. She was a member of the Episcopal Church, Daughters of the American Revolution and MENSA. Dottie enjoyed photography, traveling the world, and reading a wide variety of literature and poetry. She earned her undergraduate degree at Canterbury College and her Master's degree in Reading and Developmental Instruction from the University of Missouri. She achieved great success as a teacher because of her natural inclination of treating all with kindness, respect and dignity. During World War II, Dot was a manager at the Production Control Office of American Central Aircraft Company in Connersville, Indiana, which produced wings for the B24 planes. After the war, she went back to public school administration as the Supervisor of Developmental Education in Kansas City, MO, where she developed nationally replicated programs for kindergarten to high school students with special learning needs in the Center School District in Kansas City, MO. The Mitchell Family in the United States originated in the Carolinas and migrated with other families of English/Irish/Scottish descent to the Midwest via the first great gateway to the west, The Cumberland Gap. She donated the archives of her family's history to the Lawrence County Historical Museum in Bedford, Indiana. Dottie, and her sage advice and guidance will be greatly missed by her family, former students and many, many friends. A service in her honor will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please make a gift in her memory to The Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203. Floyd's North Church Street Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dorothy Skaptason please visit our Sympathy Store.