Dorothy S. Bliss

Dorothy S. Bliss, of Liberty, KY, formerly of Ithaca, NY, passed away peacefully from this life on Friday, August 22, 2025. She was 105. She was vibrant in spirit though weakening in physical strength during the last few months.

She was born in Olean, NY on July 1, 1920, to the late Harry Ward and Nellie Austin Simmons. Growing up in Olean, as a youngster, she visited various churches yet loved her own Bethel A.M.E. Her memories of her life in Olean were clear.  Dorothy achieved a high school diploma in business writing while still in elementary school. She graduated from Olean High School in 1939 with two diplomas specializing in business.  During WWII, Dorothy was employed at St. Francis Hospital although not in its offices. There, she was a nurse’s aide, walking the hospital halls, cleaning rooms between patients, serving trays and providing minimal personal care. Longing for office work, she helped local families with housekeeping, sold perfume beads, and freely helped an Oleaner set up a business filing system.

In Ithaca, NY, professionals recognized her excellence and sought out her skills, holding various secretarial and community service positions there. From 1954 until 1960, Dorothy was the secretary to the county historian at the Dewitt Historical Museum.  There she documented well over 3000 artifacts of the archive. In December of 1960 until June of 1969, she was the church secretary, a link between congregants and three different ministers of the First Unitarian Church in Ithaca. In July of 1969, she became the personal secretary to Dr. J. Wright, College of Human Ecology at Cornell University.  While working with Dr. Wright, she assisted in thesis and manuscript preparation for presentations to the university community, until June of 1971. Dorothy continued serving at Cornell University as secretary to five faculty in Community Service Education, also associated with the College of Human Ecology, as the stenographer. In November 1972, joining the Graduate School of Business and Public Administration at Cornell University, she served as the department secretary to Professor Lisle Carter, Jr. L.L.B., until her departure in September 1974. In addition to her many attributes to community service, she was also a former member of the Martha Chapter #38 O.E.S in Jamestown, NY and the Dorianthia Chapter #19 O.E.S. in Ithaca.

After her retirement and several geographic relocations, Dorothy began college classes at the age of 87. She attended Rutgers University in 2007 and Middlesex County Community College in 2007 and 2008.

Dorothy will be remembered as a marvel.  She was an open and loving heart. With a sense of humor and wit that increased after becoming a centenarian, she demonstrated soaring acceptance and engagement with encountered strangers becoming friends. She would say “I love you and I don’t even know you. That is what we are supposed to do.”

In addition to her parents, Dorothy is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, Wayne H. Bliss, who passed away in 2005; and her son, Dr. James R. Bliss, who passed away in 2020.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Dr. Cheryl Bliss of Liberty, KY (formerly of Ithaca, NY); a granddaughter, Aminah M. Bliss, MD of California; and two great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 7:00PM at McKinney-Brown Funeral Home, Liberty, KY with Bro. Tyler Ford officiating.

The family will receive visitors on Thursday, September 4, 2025, from 6:00PM to 7:00PM at McKinney-Brown Funeral Home.

Arrangements for Mrs. Dorothy S. Bliss have been entrusted to McKinney-Brown Funeral Home. An online guestbook is available at www.mckinneybrown.com.