Dorothy Mae (Thowe) Covington May 17, 1943 – January 14, 2026

Dorothy Mae Covington, 82, of St. Marys, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at Oakley Place in Rossville, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Alma, Kansas, on May 17, 1943, to Arthur Chris and Madeline (Kobiskie) Thowe, Dorothy grew up attending schools in Alma before graduating from Hayward High School in Hayward, California. She returned to her Kansas roots later, where she built a remarkable legacy of love, creativity, and community.

Dorothy married John Kolde on December 30, 1961, in Hayward, California. Years later, she married Calvin Covington on July 4, 2001, in St. Marys; Calvin survives her at home.

For more than 33 years, Dorothy owned and operated Dorothy’s Hair Salon in St. Marys, pouring her heart into every client who walked through her door. She was far more than a hairstylist—she was a trusted friend, a celebrator of life’s milestones, and a source of comfort in tender moments. From a toddler’s first haircut to the perfect prom updo, the elegant wedding styles that made brides glow, and even the gentle, dignified final touches prepared with care and respect before funerals, Dorothy helped mark the most meaningful chapters in countless lives. She took quiet pride in her craft and the relationships she nurtured, knowing she played a small but special role in making people feel beautiful and seen.

While her salon work brought her deep fulfillment, nothing compared to the joy of family. Dorothy became a grandmother in 1987 and later a beloved “Gigi” to her great-grandchildren starting in 2013—roles she cherished above all else. She delighted in decorating for the holidays, filling her home with warmth and light, and treasuring every moment spent laughing, playing, and creating memories with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dorothy is survived by her devoted husband, Calvin Covington; sons, Joe (Kim) Kolde and Mike (Shaney) Kolde; grandchildren, Jessica (Ryan) Cole, Samantha (Paul) Odell, Wyatt (Megan) Kolde, and Kati (Ben Kates) Kolde; and eight great-grandchildren, Turner, Averi, Brayliee, Blase, Carter, Penelope, Mia, and Josie.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings: John Palenske, Nyla Lesline, Ella Marr, Art Thowe, Robert Thowe, Delmar Thowe, and Vernon Thowe.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, January 18, 2026, from 4:00–6:00 p.m. at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys, with a rosary recited at 5:45 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 19, 2026, also at Piper Funeral Home, with burial in the Peace United Church of Christ Cemetery in Alma, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas City Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis kcpulmonaryfibrosis.org or Helping Hands Humane Society hhhstopeka.org and may be left in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, KS 66536.

Dorothy’s legacy lives on in the smiles she created, the lives she touched, and the love she shared so generously with her family and community. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.