Dorothy (Tootie) S. Niebank

Dorothy (Tootie) S. Niebank, age 83 of Gainesville, Georgia, passed away Sunday, April 10, 2011 after a struggle with colon cancer. She was born June 29, 1927 in Scranton, Pennsylvania to the late Francis Hazen Shafer and Dorothy Whiting Osborne. She was raised in Haverford, Pennsylvania and in married life lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Boise Idaho, Hilton Head, South Carolina and finally, Gainesville, Georgia. She established and operated 3 different small businesses ranging from tennis apparel to men's and women's clothing. She raised several litters of golden retrievers and worked for animal shelters and championed adopting rescue animals. Tootie volunteered in many other capacities, as a gray lady in hospitals, in elementary schools as a reading tutor, and as a Stephen Minister. She was an avid tennis player, played golf and loved all kinds of dancing, music and bridge. She participated in Savoy Opera Company in Philadelphia. She was an avid reader and loved her book discussion groups. She was preceded in death by husbands Ward Hugh Speer and C. George Niebank. She leaves behind her husband of 5 years, Robert Desesa of Gainesville, Georgia and 4 children, Katharine Garri Carter of Dayton, Ohio, Barbara Brady Allen of Dallas, Texas, W. Brad Speer of Baltimore, Maryland and Jay W. Speer of Richmond, Virginia. She has 6 grandchildren, Megan Maham of Langley, Virginia, James Allen of Dallas, Texas, Lauren Allen of Dallas, Texas, Kacy Carter of Dayton, Ohio, Walker Speer of Richmond, Virginia and Marielle Speer of Richmond, Virginia. She had 1 great grandchild, Lincoln Maham of Langley, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to your local humane society and or a local hospice organization. A Memorial Service is to be held Friday, April 15, 2011, 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel at Lanier Village Estates, 3950 Village View Drive, Gainesville, Georgia.

Online Condolences can be made at littledavenport.com

Little-Davenport Funeral Home of Gainesville, Ga.