Dorothy Nell (Portwood) Caldwell

Dorothy Nell Portwood Caldwell, 91, of Amarillo, passed away on Monday, July 21, 2025. Memorial services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, July 26, 2025 at First Baptist Church Chapel, 1208 S. Tyler St. with Dr. Howard Batson officiating. Private burial will take place at Llano Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 PM Friday, July 25, 2025 at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive.

Dorothy was born June 15, 1934 in Amarillo, Texas to Lester and Lottie Portwood. She grew up in Amarillo with her parents and younger sister, Ann, until her junior year in high school. The family moved to Perryton, Texas where Dorothy graduated from high school in 1952. Dorothy enjoyed college at Hardin Simmons University at Abilene, Texas where she met and married Tom Caldwell in 1956, the same year she graduated with her bachelor degree. Together they raised a family of five children, Denise, Chris, Kirk, Dean and Tray. Dorothy dedicated her life to caring for her family. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

Dorothy and Tom were longtime members of First Baptist Church, where Dorothy sang in the choir and was active in the W.M.U., having served as president for two years. They were both involved in International Sunday school and taught ESL for many years. Dorothy was a member of the Gideons Auxilliary for many years. In her spare time, she enjoyed studying her Bible and gardening. She will be dearly missed by her friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Tom Caldwell; a son, Kirk Caldwell; a granddaughter, Kambly Belz; a great-granddaughter, Willa Grace Conway; a brother-in-law, Jimmie Todd; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Nette and Stan Green; and her parents-in-law.

Survivors include four children, Denise Hollingsworth and husband Mark of Durango, CO, Chris Caldwell and wife Kelly and Dean Caldwell and wife Lori all of Amarillo, and Tray Caldwell and wife Coral of W. Richland, WA; a sister, Ann Todd of Odessa, TX; daughter-in-law, Lindsey Caldwell of Tomball, TX; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jerry and Candy Caldwell of Mesa, AZ; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church, 1208 S. Tyler St. Amarillo, TX 79101; or to Gideons International at www.gideons.org.