Dorthy Hayden was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was the fourth of five children born to her parents, and the only daughter. At a very early age Dorthy moved with the family to Northern Calif. When Dorthy was 12 years old, her world turned upside down and inside out. Dorthy's mom was murdered . The next several years were a blur, as her father married another woman and the family was uprooted, moving numerous times to different states. Dorthy and her brothers had to attend several different schools as a result. Dorthy's new step mom was not fond of her and let it be known. Dorthy got a job at Taco Bell when the family moved to Gresham and kept herself busy with long hours at work and at school. Graduating from Barlow High School, she then got a waitressing job at Burns Brothers in Troutdale. It was here she became friends with a mechanic, Mark Hayden. After a year, Mark asked Dorthy on a date. They married in 1977 and have now been married 37 years! Anxious to have a family of her own, Dorthy became pregnant one month after getting married and then again 9 months after their son was born. Today they have their son and daughter and three grandchildren, ages 13, 7 and 6. Family is everything to Dorthy and she is grateful beyond words to have a tight knit family that she is close to and even vacations with. Not remembering a great deal of "fun" in her childhood, at age 28, she began playing on a women's softball team that her husband coached. Playing for several years, one year, they ended up going all the way to the regional playoffs, getting second place! In 1985 Dorthy decided to leave waitressing behind and get a job that put her on her children's schedule. She was hired at Corbett Grade School by Principal, Fred Martin and she has been there ever since! Hired originally as an aide, they asked if she could drive a bus for 3 months as a sub. That turned into a 20 year gig! She is now back to being a bus driver only as a sub and works full-time as the GS Secretary. Dorthy's husband Mark will soon be retiring as an engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad, but Dorthy says she is NOT ready to leave/retire from Corbett! Mark attended Corbett Schools, their kids attended and now their grand kids are attending.
