Dorothy Ann Phalen (Collins), 83, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away peacefully on August 8th, 2026, at NorthCare Hospice House.

Born on March 14, 1943, in Nashua, Missouri to the late J.T. and Frances Collins, Dorothy graduated from Liberty High School and went on to attend Christian College in Columbia, Missouri and Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas. Dorothy graduated with her degree in education and enjoyed teaching elementary school in the Kansas City area.

On March 18, 1967, Dorothy married Victor V. Phalen, and they had two children. In those early years, she raised her boys and continued working as a substitute teacher. As her boys grew older, she started taking accounting classes and began working as the office manager for the family’s new car auto dealerships, Phalen Motors and Vic Auto Plaza, until retirement.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Victor V. Phalen; her children, Jeff Phalen (Tami) of St. Joseph, Chris Phalen (Amy) of Lawrence, Kansas; her four grandchildren, Emma, Andrew, Danny, and James. She was preceded in death by her parents.

When the grandchildren were young, Dorothy would host the most amazing spreads for holidays and the most epic Easter Egg hunts where the front yard was literally filled with Easter eggs for family and friends who are like family. Always practical, she kept the chocolate inside the house to avoid melting! She made sure it was the good stuff with more chocolate Russell Stover eggs than could be counted. Dorothy loved her dogs and rarely could walk by one without offering a few pets.

Special thank you to the medical staff at North Kansas City Hospital and gratitude to the Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care team at NorthCare Hospice.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, August 16th from 1:00pm to 2:00pm at Terrace Park Funeral Home & Cemetery followed by a funeral service at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care or the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City.