Dorothy Lanette Heaton

Dorothy Lanette Heaton, 91, of Geneseo, passed away on March 11, 2026, at Clarissa Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, IA. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at St. Malachy’s Catholic Church in Geneseo, IL. at 11 A.M. Father Daniel Gifford will officiate. Burial will take place at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the mass from 9:30 A.M. – 11 A.M. at St. Malachy’s Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St Malachy’s Catholic Church or the Henry County Humane Society.

Dorothy was born on May 25, 1934, the daughter of Russell and Leona (Winkels) Hanson in Canby, Minnesota. She attended Canby High School until December 1949 when her family moved to a farm in Garden Plain, Illinois and she graduated from Fulton High School in 1952. She married Homer Heaton on April 11, 1953, in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fulton. He precedes her in death.

Dorothy and Homer moved to Geneseo when he returned home from the Korean War in May of 1955. They were members of St Malachys Catholic Church since that time. Dorothy was also a member of Circle two and served as a Eucharistic Minister. She Worked several office jobs over the years between having her four children. Dorothy retired from John Deere Insurance in 1994 where she was an Agent for Personal Lines for 22 years. She was a member of the Women of the Moose since 1980, the Geneseo Country Club, Geneseo Community Center and a member of the Hammond Henry Hospital Auxiliary.

Dorothy’s special joy was her family. She loved being included in all their activities, sports, programs, concerts, recitals and birthday parties. She loved to dance with Homer, which they did all their years of their lives. The first time they met was at a dance. She enjoyed walking her little yorkie, Abby. Dorothy loved fixing special meals for her family and baking their special sweets.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Patty (Fred) Priester of Long Grove, IA; sons, Michael (Carrie) Heaton of Geneseo, Greg (Kim) Heaton of Geneseo, and Doug (Melissa) Heaton of Woolridge, MO; grandchildren, Tim Washburn, Toby Washburn, Jaime (Ryan) Dyer, AJ Washburn, Linley (Brett) Stees, Landon Heaton, Kelsey (Jeff) Amman, Justin (Kaitlyn) Heaton, Kyle (Kate) Heaton, Joshua Heaton, Robyn (Alex) Smith, Kara (Jon) Palmer, Paige (Chris) Fleener, and Peter (Jackie) Priester; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Mackinzie, Bianca, Scarlett, Peyton, Jordan, Mason, Jackson, Kane, Brielle, Jack, Natalie, Peter, Mia, Ben, Jane, Poppy, Rosalie, Ava, Bennett, Carter, Henry and Ella and great great granddaughter, Naiomi; sister, Linda (Mark) Ellis; sister in law, Linda Hanson.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Leona, husband, Homer Heaton; brothers, Donald, Paul, and Allan Hanson; sisters, Diane Janice and Marilyn