Dorothy Keaton Hall, mother of actress Diane Keaton
Dorothy Deanne Keaton Hall passed away Sept. 18 at age 86 from Alzheimer’s disease, surrounded by family and friends. A memorial will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at Casa Romantica, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949-498-2139.
Born in Winfield, Kansas, Dorothy married and raised her family in Orange County. She was a beautiful woman – a winner in the Mrs. America contest and widely talented. But what is remembered best is how much, and how well, she loved her children.
Dorothy was an unusually progressive mother for the 1950s: interested, encouraging, accepting and always a champion for her children. Dorothy had a full life as a photographer, collagist, potter and diarist – an acute observer of telling detail. Kind, sweet and understated, she was, underneath her shyness, a creative, directed and opinionated person.
She earned a teaching degree in the early ’60s and taught school for a while. Then she volunteered for decades for the Orange County chapter of the American Cancer Society and the Share Our Selves food bank. She loved, and rescued, animals as well. Dorothy was quietly an extraordinary person; her life, so calm on the outside, so intense on the inside, will always be a beacon to her family and many friends.
Dorothy’s beloved husband, Jack Newton Hall, died in 1990; her sisters, Orpha Thiesen and Martha Olsen, also died before her.
Dorothy is survived by her children, Diane Keaton of Beverly Hills, Randy Hall of Laguna Beach, Robin Bevington of Sharpsburg, Ga., and Dorrie Hall of Los Angeles; her son-in-law, Rickey Bevington; and four grandchildren, Riley and Jack Bevington and Dexter and Duke Keaton.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dorothy’s memory to the UCI Foundation. Mail to Dr. Claudia Kawas, c/o UCI, 1121 Gillepsie, Irvine, CA 92697-4540. In the memo, note “Dorothy Hall/Kawas Research.”
George Roth
George Stephen Roth, 49, a resident of San Clemente, where he was a clerk at Tony’s Market, passed away unexpectedly.
He is survived by his mother, Sally Roth, of San Clemente; and three brothers, Dennis Roth of Bell, Brian Roth of Bell and Darryl Roth of Chino Hills. He was preceded in death by his brother Howard Roth. He also is survived by six nieces and two nephews.
A memorial reception is planned for 2 p.m. today at Adele’s restaurant in the San Clemente Inn. His cremated remains will be scattered privately off the coast of Orange County. Arrangements have been entrusted to Lesneski Mortuary, 640 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949-492-1717.