DOROTHY LOUISE SIMONS GONIA WHITE

Dorothy Louise “Dot” Simons Gonia White, of Hubbard Lake, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, at Medilodge of Alpena, after an arduous journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.

Dot was born Jan. 18, 1952, in Wyandotte, to John Elmer Simons and Nina May Spencer Simons. Dot grew up in Lincoln Park and spent her summers in Ossineke. She graduated from Cass Tech High School in Detroit. A talented string bassist, Dot was principal bassist for the Cass Tech Orchestra, performed with the Harp & Vocal Ensemble, and joined the Cass Symphony Band’s 1969 European tour.

On May 27, 1972, Dot married Mike Gonia in her grandfather’s Ossineke Methodist Church, in Ossineke. After their marriage Dot and Mike worked in the Detroit area where their two daughters, Kendra and Kolette were born. When Dot’s parents moved to a retirement home in 1981, Dot and Mike moved into their Ossineke home. They opened their own business, the Clean Team, a diverse janitorial service.

In 1993, when it was time for another move, Dot successfully applied for an administrative position with AmeriCorps, and the family moved to Charleston, South Carolina where she began a very satisfying career as Project Manager – Operations AmeriCorps NCCC. After her mother’s death and the end of her first marriage, Dot married Loring Quincy White III on Nov. 29, 1997, in Charleston, South Carolina.

She and Quinn lived on a boat for five years in South Carolina. In 2000, they purchased a homestead on 108 acres in Adams Run, South Carolina. In March 2012, she completed a lifelong dream earning a Bachelor’s degree of Business Administration from Strayer University. In addition to the many other courses she had completed throughout the years, she was a lifelong learner. In December 2014, Quinn and Dot relocated to a new home in Black River, Michigan. Dot worked remotely for NCCC until a diagnosis of premature Alzheimer’s ended her career. Dot enjoyed being with people, going to church, playing music, camping, kayaking, and being outside.

Survivors include her husband, Loring Quincy White III, her children Kendra (Dennis) Leavesley, Kolette (Matt) McLelland, Jeremy (Kristen) White, and Stormi (Keith) Mullis; her grandchildren Michael Hildreth, Nikolas Leavesley, Cassie and Taylor Mullis and Parker White; her great-grandchildren Forrest and Liam Hildreth, and Jeanette and Keegan Leavesley; her sister Peg Simons (Mike Skele), her nephew Jonathan Hill, in addition to her extended family and numerous friends.

A celebration of Dot’s life will be Aug. 2, 2025, 11 a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church, Hubbard Lake Michigan.

For those wanting to remember Dot through a memorial donation the family suggests you direct them to the Alzheimer’s Association or The Michael J. Fox Foundation in her name.

To leave an online condolence or share a favorite memory of Dorothy, please go to www.SimpsonFamilyFuneralHomes.com.