Dorothy J McClamroch

Her family and friends celebrate the life and memory of Dorothy Jean Orand McClamroch who died peacefully on December 10, 2016. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, December 16, 2016 at 12:00 in the Sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church on 900 Jordan Street. Officiating will be Rev. Dr. Chris Currie. A reception with the family will immediately follow in the dining room after the service. Dorothy, known to many as Diji, was born in Tulsa, OK, on September 15, 1922, the first daughter of David Howard Orand and Dorothy Porter Orand. She grew up in Waco, TX, and Austin, TX, while spending several summers visiting family in Kentucky. During The Great Depression, her family moved from Waco to Austin, where her father found employment at the Veterans Administration. She attended University Junior High and Austin High School, near the campus of the University of Texas. Her sister, Mary David Orand, was born in 1934. Her life changed further that year when her paternal grandfather, Papa, and then her father died. Throughout her life, Diji and her sister Mary had a special bond formed from these days. During her elementary and high school years, she made many good friends, maintaining some of the friendships throughout her lifetime. She attended the University of Texas, where she was active in student organizations such as Mortar Board, Orange Jackets, Bluebonnet Belle, and a Student Government Representative. She met Nathaniel Harris McClamroch, Jr. and married in 1941. They lived in Houston, in Port Arthur, and then moved to Shreveport in 1946 where Harris joined his father to found McClamroch Machinery Co. They joined the First Presbyterian Church where they were both extremely active in the church and found it to be a source of education, strength, and joy throughout the years. In 1968, Diji began work as a secretary at Arthur Circle School. In 1975 she officially joined McClamroch Machinery Co. as Business Manager. After several years of part time classes, she received a Business Degree from Louisiana State University, Shreveport in 1978. This was a very busy period in her life, juggling family, church, business, and following Harris' hectic pace. Her life changed again when Harris died in 1991. After a period of adjustment, she established a wonderful lifestyle built around family, friends, church, and bridge games. Diji lived a full life, no matter whether viewed in terms of years or in terms of the impact she had on others. She had broad interests in travel, the arts, history, sports and all things related to Austin and the University of Texas. She had a life-long passion for games and puzzles, especially for the game of bridge at which she excelled. Diji loved her family and her friends, and her love was reciprocated by all of us. In fact, she was a role model for many us in understanding the deepest meaning of God, family, and friendship. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother-in-law Charles Driesbrock. She is survived by her four children: Nathaniel Harris McClamroch lll and wife Margaret of Ann Arbor, MI, David Robert McClamroch and wife Sue of Shreveport, LA, James Richard McClamroch and wife Margie of Houston, TX, and Susan McClamroch Dixon and husband Rob of Atlanta, GA; six grandchildren, Kristin Jean McClamroch and her husband Madhu Iyengar, Emily McClamroch Mills and her husband Daniel, Haley Furgeson Sheppard and her husband Branch, Laura Caitlin Tew, Robert Harris Dixon and his partner Megan Covington, and Daniel Neil Dixon and his wife Maddie; five great-grandchildren, Kalyani Iyengar, daughter of Kristi and Madhu, Amethyst Mills, daughter of Emily and Daniel, and Reid, Jack, and Ellen Sheppard, children of Haley and Branch; her sister, Mary David Orand Driesbock; she is also survived by many nieces and nephews she loved so much. The family would like to express their special thanks to Carolyn Harper, who passed away earlier this year, and her sister, Shirley Jones, who both provided Diji with friendship, love, comfort, and compassion. The family also sends their gratitude to Dr. Dan Moller and Dr. Scott McRight and staff, and to Lifepath Hospice.     In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 900 Jordan Street, Shreveport, LA. 71101, Shriners Hospital for Children, 3100 Samford Ave., Shreveport, LA 71103 or to the charity of choice.