Dorothy E. McCracken, 95, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2025, in Sarasota, Florida.
Born on April 14, 1930, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Carl and Joyce Meyer, Dorothy grew up in Whitewater and graduated from Whitewater High School. She then worked for a photographer and hand painted his first colored portraits, until she got married.
She and her first husband, Bernard Wafle, owned and operated a 179-acre dairy farm in Helenville, Wisconsin, for 25 years before relocating to Ocala, Florida, in 1979.
Dorothy later married Earl McCracken, in Ocala, Fl. She also shared a special companionship later in life with John Simms.
A devoted member of the First United Methodist Church of Ocala, Dorothy found joy in faith, fellowship, and service. She will be remembered for her love of family, her strong work ethic, and her kind and gentle spirit.
She is survived by her children: Cynthia Yapp of Boise, Idaho; Steven Wafle of Phoenix, Arizona; and Jeannie Comparetto of Sarasota, Florida. She also leaves behind her grandchildren: Mike Miller, Rebecca Sheu, Rachel Unverzagt, Anthony Comparetto, and Amanda McNally; and her great-grandchildren: Adeline, Theo, and Emma.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husbands, Bernard Wafle and Earl McCracken; her daughter, Sheryl Miller; her mother, Joyce Meyer; her sister, Joyce Sokolowski; her brother, Stan Meyer; and her companion, John Simms.
Dorothy’s life was one of faith, family, and dedication. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Visitation will be held at First United Methodist Church, 145 S. Prairie Street, Whitewater, WI on Saturday, April 11 from 10-11 a.m. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Whitewater.
