Dorothy Lucille "Dottye" Ashner

Dottye passed peacefully at home on Thursday morning, March 19, 2026. She is survived by her four sons: Steve, Tim, Jeff and Chris, their spouses, eight grandchildren and  two great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Dewey and Mary VanHercke, her husband Leo, her brother Jack VanHercke and her sister Virginia Griffith. At age 13, Dottye met the love of her life, Leo Ashner, as Leo’s childhood friend Virgil Bodine arranged a double date that included Virgil, Virginia, Leo and Dottye. Dottye graduated from Shawnee Mission Rural (now Shawnee Mission North) in 1946. In high school as a freshman, she worked in the school office and as a teachers aid, and starting at sophomore, she was cheerleader and part of the pep club for the next three years. As a varsity cheerleader, she was named “Indian Princess” for the Shawnee Mission Rural Indians during football season, and was the second to Homecoming Queen. Dottye also made the National Honors Society her senior year. As a senior, she acted in a play called “Don’t Take My Penny” and made the Thespian Club. She wrote several articles in Journalism class and made Quill and Scroll.

In 1950 she married her sweetheart, Leo. She was a constant source of strength and encouragement as they built their dream life, their Wonderful Life together as partners. Even as she raised four boys she was an integral part of the building and development enterprises that spanned six decades and continues on today. 

Dottye was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Some of her greatest days were spent attending her four sons' baseball, football, basketball, track and field sporting events. She also cherished spending holidays and family time together, as well as taking family vacations. Dottye was the backbone of the family and constantly reminded the family of how blessed and fortunate they all were throughout their entire lives. Her kindness, wisdom, strength, and love will live on forever in all of us who were blessed to know her.

Services will be held on Wednesday, March 25 at Johnson County Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be at 10:00am followed by services at 11:00am.  Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.  Memorial contributions are suggested to the Deanna Rose Farmstead.