Dorothy Ann Culpepper

Dorothy Ann Heckman, born on February 3, 1933, in Cincinnati, Ohio, was the cherished eldest daughter of Gerhard and Reba Heckman. She had a younger brother, Fred, who sadly passed away a few years ago. Dorothy was the last remaining member of her immediate family. After losing her husband of 50 years in 2003, she faced the challenges of the modern world independently for two decades.

Dorothy leaves behind a legacy of love through her eight children: Richard, Larry, Mike, Rebecca, Kathy, Sandra, Steven, and Dorann, all of whom held their mother, Dorothy A. Culpepper, in the highest regard.

From a young age, Dorothy exhibited a bright and determined spirit, nurturing her passion for drawing and painting. At the age of six, her family relocated from Cincinnati to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she graduated from Albuquerque High School. Dorothy furthered her education at New Mexico State University, where she met and married Charles H. Culpepper on January 31, 1952. The following year marked the beginning of the Culpepper family with the arrival of their first child.

In addition to raising her family, Dorothy pursued her interests by offering natural childbirth classes in collaboration with a Family Practice doctor in Farmington. In 1973, she joined her husband as a Real Estate Appraiser, and together they established the Farmington Investment Company.

The 1970s saw Dorothy's artistic ambitions flourish as she took numerous classes in Santa Fe and at San Juan College, honing her unique technique. She studied under renowned artists, deepening her appreciation for the art world. In the 1990s, Dorothy began showcasing her artwork at the Montserrat Contemporary Art Gallery in New York, a tradition she maintained annually until her last exhibition in 2024. Her long and fruitful art career garnered her a devoted following of art enthusiasts eager to see her latest creations.