FOUNTAIN GREEN— Dorthy Swenson Ivory, more commonly known as “Dot,” will reign over the Lamb Days celebration as grand marshal this year.
Dot was born and raised in Mt. Pleasant where she attended North Sanpete High School and met the love of her life, James Eugen Ivory. They were married in 1961 and have made Fountain Green their home for the past 60 years.
Together they have six kids: Tracy (Don) Stewart, Karl (Cindy) Ivory, Wes (Carey) Ivory, Kim (Daniel) Clyde, Brenda (Ben) Cole, and Brandon (Amy) Ivory. From those six children, they have been blessed with 24 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.
One of the things that Dot is known for is the large apricot tree in her yard that the grandkids all love to climb.
While raising her children, Dot attended and graduated from Derrell’s College of Beauty. Following graduation, she opened and operated a beauty shop called Dottie’s Fashion, but later changed the name to Final Touch.
She also opened a floral shop named Unique Gifts, where she made and sold floral arrangements, wooden crafts and ceramics. After Dot retired, the shop was sold.
Her love for crafting and for her business played a big part in her starting the craft fair, which continues today as a tradition at Lamb Days.
Dot loves Fountain Green, and serves and volunteers in any way she can. She helped with the Miss Lamb Days pageant for several years and loved working with the young women. She would often find a girl who was competing but didn’t have the funds for a dress and help her get the perfect one.
“She loved to help do the girls hair and make-up,” her daughter Tracy said. “But she would help anywhere she was needed.”
Dot has been an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints her whole life. Alongside her husband, they have served three local missions.
Because of the love that she has for everyone around her, she has been known as the “Mother of the Ward.” She would do anything for anyone and helps everyone every chance she gets.
Attending Lamb Days is something she looks forward to every year. Some of her favorite things about Lamb Days are watching the men get the pits ready for the lamb cook, riding through the parade on John Deer tractors with her husband and watching the softball games.
But her most favorite thing about Lamb Days is walking around the park and visiting with people. She loves how it’s like a big reunion when every- one “comes home” to gather with their family and friends.
