Dorothy Cook (or possibly spelled Dorthy) was born about 1911, Michigan. Dorothy was a ward of, and later adopted by, Frank E. (1858-1941) and Mae (Barber) (1864-1936) Liverance. Dorothy, using the surname Liverance, graduated in 1927 from Okemos High School.
"Dorthy Cook" was enumerated in the 1920 Meridian Township, Ingham County, Michigan US Federal Census living in the Frank Liverance household as a "ward," age 9, born in Michigan. Prior to the 1920 listing, Dorothy had been associated with the Liverance family in several newspaper articles.
Owosso Times (Owosso, Michigan) Friday 13 August 1915
The Woodin-Reed wedding was described as "solemnized Wednesday at high noon at the home of..." The reporter described the ceremony and attendants; "...flower girls, Miss Dorothy Cook of Lansing...." "Miss Fern Liverance of Lansing, who assisted as bridesmaid...." was also included in the article. Among the wedding guests were "Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Liverance, Lansing."
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 22 August 1919
Williamston, Aug. 22 - The annual reunion of the Liverance family was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bert A. Liverance, on the lawn Wednesday, Aug. 20. There were 28 guests present to partake of the bountiful dinner, after which a short program was carried out. These present from out of town were, Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Liverance and Dorothy Cook of Okemos....
Between 1920 and 1923 Dorothy assumed the surname of Liverance.
Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) Sunday 25 March 1923
Sunbeam Club
Dorothy Liverance, age 12, Okemos
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 8 October 1923
GIVE OKEMOS PASTOR GOODBYE RECEPTION
Okemos, Oct. 8 - Branches of autumn leaves and flowers converted the Methodist Episcopal parsonage into an autumn bower, Friday evening, when more than seventy-five members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their friends tendered Rev. W.E. Calon and Mrs. Calon and their daughter, Miss Amy Calon, an informal reception. The attractive decorations were the work of the pastor, who is an artist of no mean ability.
A delightful part of the program was the group of songs, led by Mr. Kelley and Mr. Becker, with Miss Marion Grettenberger at the piano. Miss Jessie Turner gave a splendid humorous reading and Mrs. Liverance and Mrs. Hurley followed with a vocal duet. Two delightful numbers of the program were given by two of the younger members of the Sunday school, a vocal solo by Miss Dorothy Liverance and a recitation by little Miss Whiting. There was a reading by Mrs. Bowen and an instrumental solo by Miss Grettenberger.
Nothing more is known about Dorothy. She was not mentioned in Mrs. Mae Liverance's 1936 obituary nor was she listed in any of the Liverance's biological children's obituaries. The last located acknowledgment of Dorothy was in Frank Liverance's 1941 obituary.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday 31 July 1941
FRANK LIVERANCE
Okemos, July 31 - Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Community church for Frank Liverance, 83, who had been a resident of Ingham county for 73 years. His death occurred Friday morning, July 25, at the home in Okemos after a short illness. He was born in Weeksport, N.Y., and as a small lad came to Michigan. Early in life he became a teacher and for 21 years taught in Locke and Williamston townships. During his lifetime he held a number of responsible positions and age did not keep him from taking an active part in community affairs. At the time of his death he was a director in the Ingham County Mutual Insurance company and a trustee in the local church. He was one of the few people in this part of the country who had had the experience of visiting the funeral train bearing the body of Abraham Lincoln to Illinois.
In early manhood he married Mae Barber to whom was born two sons, Wallace and Frank, and a daughter, Fern. Later in life they adopted Dorothy Cook. Mrs. Liverance preceded him in death five years ago. He is also survived by two brothers and several grandchildren. Burial was made in the Rowley cemetery and Reverend Reid of Williamston officiated at the services.