Music was her Joy and Passion

My father-in-law, George Gorrell’s first cousin, Dorothy Davey Borst, was a pianist and teacher.[1] She was born on 25 June 1910 in Springfield, Missouri, to Fred James Davey and Alice C. Pfotenhauer.[2] Her father was a musician who played the trombone in bands and a music teacher who taught out of his home. So, there was music in her home growing up.

Childhood
By age ten, she was performing in piano recitals. In 1920, she took lessons from Miss Gladys Deaton and played Gypsy Rondo by Haydn.[3] Later that year, she performed “Faust Waltz” by Gounod Lang.[4] She performed a piano solo at the parent-teacher meeting at Weaver School in December 1920.[5]

A recital held in July 1922 featured Dorothy Davey and Henryetta Looney, both students of Miss Deaton, and each played seven pieces.[6] She performed for a Kiwanis luncheon the following year.[7]

She won the first-place prize in a piano solo contest of Southwest Missouri high schools in May 1924. “She was said to be the youngest student in the history of the local public schools to win such an honor.” Her school, Pipkin Junior High School, was in the B class, but she entered the A class, which represented larger schools. She received her gold medal in a ceremony during the assembly.[8]

She also played piano and organ, accompanying the choir at the Dever Benton Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, where her father was orchestra leader, and Mrs. G.L. Williams was the choir director.[9] Her father also started a musical club with the more advanced students. She performed in their concerts.[10]

High School Years

She was very active in music at Springfield High School. In her sophomore year, she was in the glee club as a second alto.[11] In her senior year, she listed her activities as belonging to the Music Club, Glee Club, Chorus and Orchestra, and was an accompanist all three years, particularly with “Creation” and “Aida.”[12]

As a pupil of Mrs. Gladys Deaton, she entered a contest in St. Louis of the Federation of Music Clubs during the Junior Day and tied for second place in the class “E” contest.[13]

In October 1926, Miss Gladys Deaton presented Dorothy in her graduating recital. “Miss Davey, who is but 16 years of age and who has studied for eight years under the instruction of Miss Deaton, plays with an interpretation far beyond her years. (Her) technic [sic] is of unusual development, and each number was played with careful accuracy. Her poise during the entire program was unusual, but especially splendid in the first numbers.”[14]

There were numerous articles about her accompanying vocalists, playing piano and organ at church, with the music club, and performing at civil and club meetings. Some of these may have been paid positions. She may have started taking students during high school, as she was listed in city directories as a teacher.[15]

She was among several musicians who entered the Southwest Missouri high school music contest. She was a member of the string trio that won first place. Other members were Jerry Handley, cellist, and David Robertson, violinist.[16]

Post High School
After high school, she taught piano and continued to perform and accompany others on the piano.

In 1930, she studied piano in New York under Alberto J. Jonas, a famous pianist, teacher, composer, and lecturer.[17] She lived in Yonkers, riding the commuter train daily and walking blocks to her lessons. She had to practice at least four to six hours a day; however, her boarding house had rules against it because of the noise. So, she found churches in the area that allowed her to practice between services.[18]

Sometime in 1935, she moved to Chicago, where she studied voice and worked as an accompanist.[19] In 1937, she won third place in a singing contest as a contralto.[20] She placed second in 1939.[21] In 1941, she placed first as the leading mezzo soprano.[22]

She accompanied choirs at the Chicago Opera House and taught lessons from her home. According to her long-time friend, Ruth Ann Jensen, “Her music and her faith meant everything to her. But when it came to her music, she knew she had a gift and was a real perfectionist. She nurtured that gift all her life.”[23]

She married Gerrit Borst in 1954, and he died two years later.[24] She moved to Wheaton, Illinois, and performed small concerts, played for the annual concert of Chicago’s High School Choirs, and was an accompanist for area voice teachers. She directed the choir at the Alsip Reformed Church and played the piano and organ. Rev. J. David Schmidt, a close friend, said, “I was listening to her perform one Sunday morning, and her playing was so wonderful I thought I was sitting in Carnegie Hall.”[25]

Dorothy died on 15 April 2002 in Wheaton. She is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, with her parents.[26]

 

#52Ancestors: Week 51: Musical

This is my eighth year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/) at Generations Cafe. I write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’sSouthern Family or My Trails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

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[1] George’s mother, Matilda Davey, was the sister of Dorothy’s father, Fred J. Davey. See 1880 US Census, Clark Co, Indiana, Jeffersonville, ED 26, p 111B&C (stamped), Philapena Wollenweber household. The children in the household were Philapena’s grandchildren.

[2] “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1925-2014,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3693/records/5875158), Dorothy C. Borst.

[3] “Piano Recital,” The Springfield Republican, 27 Feb 1920, p. 3, col. 2.

[4] “Piano Recital,” The Springfield Republican, 27 Jun 1920, p. 4, col. 1.

[5] “At Weaver School,” The Springfield Republican, 19 Dec 1920, p. 3, col. 6.

[6] “Recital,” The Springfield Republican, 16 Jul 1922, p. 3, col. 4.

[7] “Kiwanis Kouncil Luncheon,” The Springfield Republican, 24 Feb 1923, p. 3, col. 5.

[8] “Dorothy Davey Given Medal by Pipkin High,” The Springfield Republican, 24 May 1924, p. 1 col. 1.

[9] “Musical Program to Replace Sermon to Benton Ave. Church,” The Springfield Republican, 21 Feb 1925, p. 4, col. 3.

[10] “Springfield Musical Club Presents December Concert,” The Springfield Leader, 9 Dec 1925, p. 14, col. 4.

[11] Springfield High School Yearbook, The Resumé, 1926, p. 162, Girl’s Glee Club, imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1265/images/sid_1166_1926_0168), “U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016,” > Missouri > Springfield > Central High School > 1926.

[12] Springfield High School Yearbook, The Resumé, 1928, p. 42, Senior Class, Dorothy Davey; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1265/images/42092_2421406261_0490-00053); “U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016,” > Missouri > Springfield > Springfield High School > 1928.

[13] “Contest Winners,” The Springfield Republican, 29 Apr 1926, p. 3, col. 1. Also, “Federation Notes,” The Springfield Republican, 20 Apr 1926, p. 3, col. 2. “Musicians Win Honors,” The Springfield Leader, 1 May 1926, p. 10, col. 3.

[14] “Miss Davey in Recital,” The Springfield Leader, 5 Oct 1926, p. 3, col. 2.

[15] Polk’s Springfield City Directory 1928 (Kansas City, Mo: R.L. Polk & Co, 1928), p. 126, Dorothy Davey, teacher; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/10526961) > Missouri > Springfield > 1928 > Springfield, Missouri, City Directory, 1928 > image 61 of 264.

[16] “Among Springfield Music Winners,” The Springfield Daily News, 14 Apr 1920, p. 8, col. 2.

[17] “Dorothy Davey is Studying in N.Y.,” The Springfield Press, 7 Oct 1930, p. 13, col. 6. Also, “Will Return Home,” The Springfield News-Leader, 28 Jun 1931, p. 13, col. 6. Also, “Forging Ahead,” The Springfield News and Leader, 5 Oct 1930, p. 12, col. 1.

[18] “Piano Teacher and Accompanist,” Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr 2002, p. unk; clipping in George Gorrell papers.

[19] “Personals,” The Springfield Leader and Press, 24 Dec 1935, p. 8, col. 3. Also, “Personals,” Springfield Leader and Press, 4 Jan 1936, p. 6, col. 6.

[20] “Singing Steno Wins Trial for Music Festival,” Chicago Daily Tribune, 6 Aug 1937, p. 13, col. 3.

[21] “Music Festival Victory Crowns Baritone’s Work,” Chicago Daily Tribune, 11 Aug 1939, p. 6, col. 4.

[22] “Wins Soprano Honors in her First Contest!” Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug 1941, p. 9, col. 3.

[23] “Piano Teacher and Accompanist,” Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr 2002, p. unk; clipping in George Gorrell papers.

[24] “California Marriage Index, 1949-1959,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5186/), sheet 93, 1954, Gerrit Borst to Dorothy C Davey, San Diego Co, no. 3654. For Gerrit’s death, see Rapid City (So. Dakota) Daily Journal, "Artist Dies at Deadwood," 8 Aug 1956, p. 16, col. 3.

[25] “Piano Teacher and Accompanist,” Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr 2002, p. unk; clipping in George Gorrell papers.

[26] Find a Grave, (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100946999/dorothy-davey: accessed December 18, 2025), Dorothy Davey (1910–2002), photo by Lyle and Marsha, contributor 47442725, memorial 100946999, Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Springfield, Greene Co, Missouri.

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