Dorothy Jean Small Casper St. George, UT - Dorothy Jean Small Casper, age 85, died on November 4, 2014 in St. George, Utah. She was born on August 12, 1929 in Gadsden, Alabama to Albert Luke Small and Prudence Johnston. She was married to Lorin Willis Casper in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on October 26, 1949. On October 26, 2014, they had been sealed for 65 years. Dorothy was born and raised in Alabama. She attended Emma Sampson High School, and later attended the University of Alabama, where she studied nursing. After Lorin and Dorothy married, they lived on a farm about three miles outside of Driggs, Idaho, where they raised their four children. In 1976, Lorin and Dorothy moved with their two sons, still at home, to Pingree, Idaho. In 1995, Lorin and Dorothy moved to St. George where they lived for a few years, before moving to a home in Central, Utah, which was their final home together. During most of her marriage, Dorothy was a stay-at-home mom, where, over the years, she honed homemaking and mothering skills. When Dorothy got married, she had no cooking skills to speak of, but she learned to cook well for her family. One area of cooking that Dorothy excelled in was in bread baking. Her children have wonderful memories of coming home from school to a warm kitchen filled with the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked bread. The after school snack that day would be a sizeable slice of warm bread with butter and honey or homemade jam. Dorothy was also a wonderful mother. She believed in establishing family traditions, like fried chicken and potato salad picnics, huckleberry-picking adventures, family night at the drive-in theater with a large pan of caramel popcorn, unforgettable birthday celebrations, delicious Thanksgiving feasts, a home beautifully decorated for Christmas, and spiritual Christmas Eve Family Home Evenings. Dorothy loved to dance. Her children have memories of her and Lorin dancing along with Lawrence Welk on Saturday night. Dorothy also enjoyed tap dance and ballet, and she taught a number of dance classes over the years. Dorothy also loved to write. She co-authored books with a friend, Marilyn Whyte, as well as her daughter, Vicki, and also published a cookbook with favorite family recipes, including words of encouragement and wisdom from her mother and grandmother. In addition, Dorothy authored a successful, on-line newsletter entitled "blueprint4living." Dorothy was a valiant member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many leadership and teaching callings, and was a diligent visiting teacher, giving loving watch care to the sisters she was assigned. One of Dorothy's favorite church service opportunities, though, was in the St. George Temple, where she and Lorin served a Temple Mission for a number of years under President Kenneth R. Metcalf. Dorothy Jean Small Casper lived a good life, and was successful in many ways. But the things that defined her were her church, her friends, and her family. She was a faithful, loving, and devoted wife, a great friend and neighbor, and a wonderful mother. Dorothy gave many gifts to her friends and family, but perhaps the greatest were unconditional love, a listening ear, an optimistic outlook, an example of faith in, and a testimony of, Jesus Christ and a loving Heavenly Father, and the power of prayer. Dorothy is survived by her four children: Lorin Willis Casper, Jr., Vicki Casper Spackman, John Trent Casper, and Jared Bill Casper; fourteen grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Dorothy's family want to thank those friends and fellow church members who faithfully visited her after Lorin's passing. She sincerely appreciated your thoughtful kindness. Dorothy's family also want to thank the employees of Sun Tree Hospice who provided Dorothy such professional and compassionate care, and made her last days so much easier for her and her family. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. George Cotton Acres LDS Chapel, 2583 East 350 North, St. George, Utah. A viewing will be held Tuesday, prior to services, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Chapel. Interment will be on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at the Alta, Wyoming Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, 435-673-4221. For condolences, full obituary, and funeral listings please visit our website www.metcalfmortuary.com.