There will be no viewing or visitation.

Graveside services will be 9:00 AM Friday, January 23, 2026 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

After a brutal and emotional battle with Alzheimer's disease, Dorothy Mae (Grimmett) Ratigan succumbed on Sunday, 11 January 2026, in Oklahoma City, OK. She was 83 years old. Dorothy was born 14 February 1942 in Haworth, OK to Dora Mae (Pool) and Thomas Guy Grimmett. Although she lived in Siloam Springs, AR, she attended high school in Colcord, OK. She graduated in 1960 and enlisted in the US Army. Upon completion of boot camp and Advanced Individual Training at Ft. McClellan, AL, Dorothy was assigned to the MP Corps at Ft. Jay, Governor's Island, NY. This is where she met and married Patrick John Ratigan. They were stationed at Ft Jay, The Presidio of San Francisco, CA, Ft. Hamilton, NY, Ft. Richardson, AK, Okinawa, Japan and Ft. Hood, TX. Dorothy and Patrick had 13 years together before Patrick passed away because of complications from his tour in Vietnam. Dorothy was a 33-year-old widow with 4 young daughters to raise alone. Once her daughters all graduated high school and college, Dorothy volunteered her time on military bases. Additionally, she researched genealogy and completed family trees for herself and others. Dorothy enjoyed being outdoors and was surrounded by plants. She also enjoyed travel and visited various countries including, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and England as well as most of the contiguous United States. Dorothy is preceded in death not only by her husband, Patrick, but also by her mother, Dora; her father, Tom; her toddler sister, Naomi; her brother Joe; half-brothers Richard and Stanley Sanders; and son-in-law, Francisco Tanajara. She is survived by her sister, Carolyn (Jacob); her beloved nephew, Dwayne Jacob; half-brothers James and Robert Sanders; and her 4 daughters: Kim Allison (David Brinegar), Karen Ann (Elmar Cotti), Kristie Allyn (Tanajara) and Kelly Aileen (CJ Bristow). Dorothy's grandchildren include Courtney (Brinegar) Caffey, Kiera Cotti, Patryk Cotti, Erik Bristow and Nikki Bristow. She has 3 great grandchildren: Kattelina, Mac and Lyla. Dorothy will be put to rest with her husband, Patrick, at Ft. Sam National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX. Please consider making donations to the USO rather than sending flowers to the family.