Shirley Isabel Dotson, 85, of Carthage, MO, passed away peacefully in her home September 9, 2020, with her husband by her side. Shirley was born April 18, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois to deaf parents Walter Torisky and Evelyn Torisky.
Shirley grew up in St. Louis, Missouri where she met her husband James Dotson on New Year’s Eve 1949. She worked as a young girl for Bell Telephone running errands and worked her way up to operator. She was a devoted military wife and mother for 26 years before James retired for the Army in 1976 and settled in Carthage, MO. She enjoyed working for a number of years for Sears Catalog Store in Carthage. She was an avid reader, enjoyed collecting antiques, decorating her home and spending time with her husband and grandchildren.
Shirley was the “heart and soul” of her family of six. Her and her husband James had four children: daughter Karen Myers (husband Rex Myers) Diamond, MO; son James (Buddy) William Dotson Jr, deceased (wife Nancy Dotson) Carthage, MO; son, Glen David Dotson, Carthage, MO; and daughter Kathy (Dotson) Vice (husband Robert Vice), Purdy, MO. She also leaves behind a sister Joan Roberts of Yorktown, Virginia.
She was a kind and generous grandmother to 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Shirley and James would have been married 68 years on October 8, 2020. Her happiest moments and some of her fondest memories were those times when her family could gather and enjoy a meal together. She will be greatly missed by all those who had the pleasure to know and love her.
Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, September 12, 2020, at Ulmer Funeral Home. A memorial graveside service will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at Park Cemetery. Online condolence can be made at www.ulmerfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Ulmer Funeral Home.
