Dororthy Jean Coleman Burton was born June 11, 1936, to Lauree and Mable Coleman in Longview, Texas. She was the oldest of eight children.

She graduated from Ned E. Williams High School and moved to Houston in 1956.

She accepted Christ at an early age, and she was a faithful member of Mt. Hebron Baptist Church until her death.

She was united in holy matrimony with Jack Burton, Jr on November 8, 1958, and from this union they were blessed with a daughter, Jacqueline Renee Burton Hall.

Dorothy began her career in laboratory science working for Timco/Harlan Sprague Dawley for 23 years and in 1990 she joined the Animal Research Program at the Baylor College of Medicine where she served as an Animal Resources Manager for 18 years until her retirement. During her tenure with Baylor, she was highly respected for her knowledge and commitment to research. In 2007 the Center for Comparative Medicine renamed their dedicated service award to the Dorothy Burton Dedicated Service Award.

She accepted her wings on Monday, December 11, 2023.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents Lauree and Mable Coleman, her brothers Melvin Coleman, Cecil Coleman, LeRoy Coleman and Larry Coleman, and her husband of 65 years Jack Burton, Jr.

She leaves to cherish her memory her daughters Jacqueline Renee Burton Hall and Marjory Burton Robinson (Steve), her sister Helen Gobert and brothers Leonard Joe Coleman (Cynthia) and Bobby Coleman (Bassilinda), her granddaughter Justina Faye Burton (Levi), grandsons Desni Burton (Rachel), Mario Hightower and Trovon Robinson and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and extended family.