Dorothy Christene Albright was born the third child of ten children of Neil Steve Parker and Katherine Goldie Owens Parker on November 1, 1927, at Rogers, TX. Sometime around 1930 her family loaded up their possessions and livestock in a boxcar and moved to New Moore, TX, south of Lubbock, where they had purchased a small cotton farm. Being the first girl in the family, she was instrumental in helping her mother raise her seven younger siblings. She found she had a knack with kids and decided early on she wanted to be a schoolteacher. In 1944, during World War II, there was a severe teacher shortage. The local school board noticed she was good with children and obtained for her an emergency teacher's certificate to allow her to teach at the New Moore school. She was seventeen years old.

After the war, she went to Canyon, TX to attend West Texas State Teachers College to earn her teaching degree. The shortage of teachers persisted into the late 1940s and in 1947 the schoolboard at Hartley, TX contacted the college to determine if there were any eligible students which could at least temporarily teach grade school for them. She made the connection and, just before turning twenty years old, moved to Hartley still working from her emergency teacher's certificate. There she met Harvey Clifton Albright, a mechanic, and they were married in 1950. For many years she continued going to school during summers to pick up hours towards her degree and finally graduating in 1965.

Over the years she taught several generations of children, including their children and, in some cases, their grandchildren. In her first years she even taught her own younger brothers and sisters. Later, she taught her own son. She always believed every student had great potential and she always strived to bring out the very best in every one of her students.

In the late 1990s, after her husband Harvey had passed, she moved to Nebraska to be near her son David, his wife Myra, and her two grandchildren Jerri and Nathan. Besides being a great teacher, she was also a fantastic mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She lived a long, good, full life and she will be greatly missed.

She is survived by two sisters, Bobbye Jewell Parker Vogler and Terrye Ladell Parker Brown; her son David and his wife Myra Albright; her grandchildren Jerri Borges and her husband Nick Borges and Nathan Albright and his wife Sarah Albright; her great grandchildren Gabe Albright, Griffey Borges, Ari Albright, Mela Borges and Eli Albright; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

The graveside for Dorothy will be 2:00 PM, Thursday May 8 at Hartley Cemetery with Pastor David Vincent officiating. A gathering for family and friends will follow immediately at Hartley Christian Fellowship Church, 920 Johnson Street, Hartley.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.horizonfuneral.com