Mary L. Dotson, 97, of Paris, Texas, a former resident of Nashville, Arkansas. passed away Monday, December 21, 2015 at Heritage House of Paris.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, December 30, 2015 in the chapel of Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home with Rev. Jack Graham and Gabe Meruelo officiating. Burial will be at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, December 31, 2015 in the Restland Memorial Park in Nashville, Arkansas with Rev. Keith Mays officiating.
Family will receive friends from 7:00 P.M. till 8:00 P.M. Tuesday at the Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home.
Mary was born on February 16, 1918 in Central, Oklahoma. She was the third oldest of seven children of Hosea and Annie Puryear. She grew up in Nashville, Arkansas. She loved to travel, read the Bible, listened to jazz music, sing and write poetry which was published. She lived in Puerto Rico, Chicago, South Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma City due to her husband’s job as a government fruit inspector. Church was an important aspect of Mary’s life, and she taught Sunday school, sponsored foreign exchange students and did missionary work. Mary was a lifetime member of Eastern Star in Nashville, Arkansas and a member of the Friendship First Baptist Church.
She married Chester Dotson and they were married over 50 years at the time of his death. She was preceded in death by her son Dewayne Dotson who was residing in Lawrence, Kansas at the time of his death. Mary was also preceded in death by her siblings and their spouses Erron Puryear and wife Louise of Nashville, Vernon Puryear and wife Laura of Bryant, Era Puryear Chism and husband Doug of Washington, Marie Puryear O’dell and husband Bud of Mission, Texas, Juanita Puryear Porterfield and husband Vance of Paris, Texas and Geneva Puryear Ducar and husband Paul of Dallas, Texas.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews including Bobby Puryear and wife Cynthia of Nashville and Shirley Don Puryear who preceded her in death.
Services are under the direction of the Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home of Paris, Texas where online condolences may be sent by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com.
