Dortha Louise Moore was born February 20, 1925, in Sedalia, Mo., to Ira and Ethel (Embrey) Moore. The Moore family soon returned to Taney County, Mo., where Dortha was raised. She attended a one-room schoolhouse that Ira had also attended, built on land donated by Dortha's great grandfather. Dortha attended other schools as the family moved and graduated from Forsyth High School. Her family gave Dortha a love for music, and she learned to play the clarinet and piano. While in high school, Dortha was on the honor roll and active in music, band, orchestra and drama. She gave dance lessons in the summer at Walker's School of Music and The Dance in Springfield, Mo. She moved with her family to Kansas City in 1942. Here she met Albert R. Wingate, a commercial pilot with Trans World Airlines. They were married April 9, 1943, in Lima, Ohio. They soon returned to Kansas City, Mo., and moved to Independence in 1946. To Al and Dortha were born four children: one daughter, Carolyn Lee "Connie" Wingate, and three sons, David Alan, James Harald and Robert Keith "Bob" Wingate. Dortha was a housewife, and in the 1950s she volunteered as a room mother at Mt. Washington Elementary and helped with Connie's Girl Scout Troop. From 1965 to 1969, she taught piano lessons. She learned to paint in the 1960s and taught painting classes in the 1970s and 1980s. She exhibited her paintings at the Blue Ridge Mall art shows and at other art shows in the area. Many of her paintings are in different states. She was a member and past president of both the Independence Art Association and the Community Association of the Arts. She also judged art shows and played piano at two Christmas parties at the Bingham Waggoner Estate in Independence. Dortha, Al, and Bob joined Ascension Lutheran Church, Kansas City, Mo., in 1965. Dortha was a member of the LWML, president of the Miriam Circle, and directed youth choirs. Dortha and Al remained members there until they transferred to Messiah Lutheran Church in Independence in the early 1980s. At both churches, Dortha was involved in many activities and made many close friendships. Al Wingate passed away April 6, 1990. On July 14, 1991, Dortha married Leonard H. Aurich, pastor of Messiah Lutheran and later pastor of Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasant Hill, Mo. Dortha enjoyed travel and her second honeymoon took her and Len through several western states and into British Columbia. Later vacations took them to Europe, the Holy Land, and a cruise to parts of Central and South America. Dortha also enjoyed sewing, growing flowers, watching birds at her bird feeders and getting together with family and friends for conversation, good food and card games. Dortha was preceded in death by her parents, Ira Pollard and Ethel Pearl Moore, two sons, David Alan and James Harald Wingate, her first husband, Albert Raymond Wingate and brother Ira Edward "Buddy" Moore. She leaves to mourn her passing her husband, Pastor Leonard Aurich of the home; her daughter and son-in-law Connie and Jim Pettit of Weldon Spring, Mo.; her son and daughter-in-law Bob and Chris Wingate of Independence; her sister Thelma "Timmy" Scowden of Branson, Mo.; her sister-in-law Donna Steiner and husband Harley Steiner of Bluffton, Ohio; seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She is also survived by six stepchildren, Charlene Heins of Longmont, Colo., Dr. Lawrence Aurich of Belton, Mo., Kathleen Kramer of Cascade, Iowa, Dean Aurich of Mayer, Minn., Deborah Schmidt of Seward, Neb., Janice Brooks of Sioux Falls, S.D.; 22 step grandchildren; 25 step great grandchildren, and by friends too many to count. Dortha passed away at Centerpoint Medical Center on Sunday, May 4, 2008. Memorials can be given to the Board of Social Ministry of Messiah Lutheran Church, Independence. Visitation 9 to 11 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, 613 S. Main, Independence, Mo., with a service at 11 a.m., on Thursday, May 8, 2008. Burial in Lee's Summit Cemetery. We will miss her friendship and humor, and we'll treasure her love and talents she shared with us. We rejoice that she is with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and we look forward to a reunion in Heaven. Arrangements are by the D.W. Newcomer's Sons Noland Road Chapel, (816) 252-8900.