Dorothy (Kiser) Barefoot

Dorothy (Kiser) Barefoot went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 4, 2026. She was

born in Forest City, North Carolina on December 11, 1930 to the late Hillard and Zennie

(Sisk) Kiser, of whom she was the only child.

Dorothy married Howard Barefoot June 2, 1953 and they shared 64 loving years together prior to his passing in 2018. Their marriage was blessed with three children who survive, Daniel (Jane) Barefoot, Paul (Sheila) Barefoot, Sharon (Don) Cady. A fourth child, Elizabeth Ann, preceded Dorothy in death. Dorothy will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother of eleven grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. In retirement, Howard and Dorothy thoroughly enjoyed spending their winters in the Wesleyan Village, Brooksville, Florida.

Dorothy attended Cannon High School in Kannapolis, North Carolina and graduated from Guilford College in 1953 with a major in music and piano performance. Dorothy was featured in an evening senior piano recital in May 1953 where her performance included masterful interpretations of piano classics from Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Copland. She served as a guest pianist on local radio for several years and was known as the accompanist extraordinaire for numerous vocalists and musicians in addition to over 60 years as church pianist and organist.

In Dorothy’s early years, she taught piano at Pilgrim Bible College in Kernersville, NC and Frankfort Pilgrim College in Frankfort, IN. In 1968, building on her passion for teaching, Dorothy pursued further studies and received her master’s degree in education from Butler University. A respected and beloved teacher, Dorothy taught third grade at Harney Elementary in Lebanon, IN for 28 years, retiring in 1996. She was a Charter Member of Alpha Delta Kappa, a sorority for women educators.

Dorothy loved the Lord and his church, serving with Howard as they led Wesleyan churches in Burlington, Huntington, Lebanon and Colfax, Indiana. Her strong faith and display of Christ-like virtues led many women to seek her out as a mentor and friend. During her years as a pastor’s wife, in addition to her musical talents, Dorothy was a Sunday school teacher, leader of various church organizations, frequent sought-after speaker, and along with Howard and their daughter, Sharon, directed summer Kids’ Crusades for churches throughout central Indiana. Prior to local church ministry, Howard and Dorothy spent four years at All Tribes Mission School in Bernalillo, New Mexico where she taught Indian children how to play the piano.

Dorothy was blessed with a long life and the love of family, students, parishioners, and friends. We will miss her wonderful Southern cooked meals and carrot cake, celebrating family Christmas, 4th of July after-parade cookouts, family sing-alongs around the piano, her dry-wit that kept us on our toes, and most of all - knowing we were all recipients of her constant prayers and unconditional love.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at Myers Mortuary, 1502 North Lebanon Street, in Lebanon, Indiana. Visitation from 11:00 a.m. until the time of services. Interment will follow services at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon.