Dorothy "Dottee" Hibbs

Dorothy (Dottee) Hibbs, 94, of Novato, passed away in her home Friday, March 31, 2023. Dottee was born October 2, 1928 in San Francisco, to Paul and Zella Shaw. She grew up in San Francisco, eventually moving to Larkspur and graduating from LCM School. In her youth, Dottee was a majorette-twirling her baton as she marched in parades, showing her ability to flip forwards and backwards. She attended Tamalpais HS and moved to San Pedro for her senior year, where she graduated from San Pedro High School.

Towards the end of WWII, Dottee worked at the Salvation Army as a Junior Hostess where she completed miscellaneous tasks for the service men, including making doughnuts and sewing buttons on uniforms. She enjoyed various other trades in her life from working on an assembly line at her dad’s Tuna Factory to working a switchboard at United Ambulance. She was Secretary to Executive Directors at companies such as Bechtel in SF. Her love, though, was her work in the medical field, where she stayed until she retired from her final position as office manager in a San Rafael dental office.

  
Dottee’s passion was her painting. She started drawing in high school and later attended College of Marin, taking art classes part-time. She belonged to the Marin Art Society of Ross and won several ribbons for paintings she had sold. Dottee adored painting the old Victorian houses in San Francisco, sometimes rendering them from collaged newspapers that she embellished with her skilled drawing. She was such a talented artist that Disney asked her to come and draw for them, but she chose to start a family instead.

While raising her children, Dottee was a committed member of Redwood’s Presbyterian Church in Larkspur. She was a deacon as well as a wedding hostess there for 10 years. She also volunteered in several American Cancer Society Shops—most recently in Novato, only stopping when the pandemic started.

  
Right up until her last year of life, Dottee maintained her sharp wit and never missed an opportunity to flirt with a handsome man. She was sharp, intelligent, observant, and always impeccably dressed. She could be counted on to wish you a happy birthday and remember your anniversary. Dottee wasn’t weighed down by worldly possessions, choosing to gather experiences and knowledge instead. In fact, she called as many as 28 different houses her home in her lifetime. If you asked her about it, she’d say she deserved a medal for the number of moves.

  
Dottee is predeceased by her husband, Robert Hibbs, her brother Robert Shaw and sister, Catherine Shaw. She is survived by her sister Mary Zellachild. Her sons, Richard Urquhart, Pat Urquhart, Michael Urquhart, and her daughter, Debi George. Her stepsons Rich and Ross Hibbs.  9 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Dottee is loved by all her family and will be greatly missed.

Dottee had an immeasurable passion for dog rescues and dogs, having spent a year training dogs in Ohio. She loved her own fur babies as her own children. For anyone wishing to donate in her name, we ask that you contribute to a rescue you are passionate about or to her favorite rescue: Compassion without Borders in Santa Rosa (cwob.org).

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