Dorothy Geraldine (Griggs) Wilkes

Dorothy “Granny” Wilkes, extraordinary cook, crotchet artist, conversationalist, loving mother, granny and wife, died Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Ypsilanti, Mich., and “sailed away on a happy summers day.”

Granny’s homemade cooking is still the topic of conversation during family gatherings. She added just the right amount of flour and eggs in her homemade noodles and tasted so good that she often caught people sneaking a bite of them before they were even done drying. Her Italian cream cake and vegetable soup were among the common menu requests. She loved eating Jell-O salad, making pies on request, drinking cold iced tea while sitting on her covered front porch and waving at the passers-by on Johnson Street in Sullivan. Her fried fish recipe was so good that even people who did not like seafood ate it. She had crazy good canning skills and preserved green beans, carrots, strawberries, and jams, all of which came from her husband’s garden. Her seasonal allergies were too bad to work in the garden, so she perfected her green thumb by way of growing flowers. Her colorful impatients, lilac bushes, roses, and beloved Bradford Pear (which died by way of lightening strike) flourished under her care. The daytime soap titled The Young and the Restless kept her amused for years as she rooted for her favorite character, Kay Chancellor. American Idol brought out Granny’s wild side, especially seeing the show live in concert wherein she nearly got arrested for pulling someone’s hair and throwing water on a concertgoer who stood too tally in front of her. Granny’s early years brought some mischief by way of work, when she began driving at the young age of 12 while delivering eggs for the family’s chicken hatchery. Granny drove much better than Hap “Pappy” Wilkes, her husband of 76 years, who preceded her in death last year. Amazingly, they did not kill each other during their long marriage, though there was a time she did hit him with a newspaper, deservingly so. Granny once drove a very large, orange Mercury Cougar, which became known as the “squirrel masher” after she unintentionally ran over a squirrel. She loved animals; her favorite was a dog named Charlie who she saved and nursed back to health after the dog was gunned down by a grumpy neighbor. Granny loved her family, by whom she is mostly survived.  Her oldest daughter Carol Sue “Susie” Staley (Gary) exchanged written letters for decades with Granny since Susie lives in Texas. Granny’s favorite months were June and October, wherein she spent time visiting with Susie.  Granny’s family, the most important thing to her, came together at Granny and Pappy’s house during the holidays. Granny fed everyone. Her house came alive with energy, love, and holiday decorations. She loved Christmas and Halloween lights. Her house smelled like a warm summer day and homemade food. Norma Unger (Larry deceased) traveled from Georgia to visit. John Wilkes (Connie), of Terre Haute, often helped around the home and setting up the holiday décor. Youngest daughter Joyce Followell (Tom deceased) loved Granny so much and spent time with Granny shopping, talking, working in Joyce’s library, and providing care to Granny up until Granny’s final moments. Granny most often talked about her youngest son Brian Wilkes of Vincennes. Granny was proud of Brian and missed him dearly when she moved to Michigan, wherein she spent her final years. The lessons and qualities Granny instilled in each of her five children included: living by example, hard work, love thy neighbor, and kindness.  She never missed her grandchildren’s birthday, even though she had 20 grandchildren. She was especially proud of her 47 great grandchildren and two great, greats, and covered her refrigerator with pictures. Granny is missed deeply. She would have wanted as many people as possible to say goodbye to her. Services begin with a visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday July 22, 2016 at Brust Funeral Home with a joint funeral, for Pappy, immediately following. Their final resting place is at Center Ridge Cemetery in Sullivan.

 Service Information