Dorothy Louise Anderton Shealy
May 28, 1946- June 1, 2019
Heaven gained a saint as Dottie Shealy, age 73, passed away peacefully in her home in Mulberry, North Carolina on June 1, 2019 surrounded by family. For the past three years she lived with advanced cancer and was a model of dignity, strength and grace during a challenging time.
Dottie was born in Lewisburg, Tennessee and grew up in Decatur, Alabama, the eldest of four daughters to Margaret Schoonmaker Anderton and Clebie Arnel Anderton. Faith and family were the cornerstones of her life. She attended the University of Alabama prior to her marriage to Frank in 1965 and moved to Mulberry, North Carolina in 1976. She attended Salem College, earning a Master’s Degree in Sociology in 1983. Throughout her adult life she served her community by directing the daycare center at Wilkes Community College as well as working for Smart Start and the school district. Dottie volunteered many hours at the Crisis Pregnancy Center and was an active member of Baptist Home Baptist Church.
Dottie enjoyed an active retirement with many family vacations on adventures like hiking through the Grand Canyon, national parks, beach trips and many Kenyan Safaris. Dottie and Frank served as missionaries in Honduras, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brazil, Russia, Peru, and several extended trips to Kenya, where she touched many hearts and formed lifelong friendships.
Dottie is survived by Frank Shealy, her loving husband of 54 years; daughter Stacy Shealy Cantrell of Huntsville, AL (Chris), daughter Sandy Shealy Edwards of Birmingham, AL (Alan); son Jeff Shealy of Greensboro, NC (Juliana); daughter Susan Shealy Utting of San Diego, CA (Paul); sister Ginger Shelton of Decatur, AL (Kyle), sister Jeannie Bryan of Fairhope, AL (Ed); sister Faye Willingham of Decatur, AL; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Tolbert and Sherry Snoddy; nieces and nephews, Kyle Shelton Jr., Michael Shelton, Brent Shelton, Craig Bryan, Leslie Bryan, Kenny Willingham, Kerry Willingham, and Kurtis Willingham, Robin Davidson Caine, Lori Pullen, Tracy Snoddy, Danny Snoddy, Kelley Snoddy Ward.
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Dottie had a special relationship with her 9 grandchildren and will live on in the hearts and memories of Jacob Tillman, Justin Tillman, Kayleigh Cantrell, Steven Edwards, Andrew Edwards, Camila Shealy, Marina Shealy, Sophia Utting and Alexandra Utting.
A home-going celebration will be held at Baptist Home Baptist Church on Sunday, June 2nd at 5pm. Following the service in the sanctuary, there will be a casual gathering for friends and family to celebrate Dottie’s life in the church’s Life Center.
There will be a private graveside ceremony at Roselawn Cemetery in Decatur, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers please donate to any of the following organizations, which held a special place in Dottie’s heart:
Wilkes Pregnancy Care Center, 301 8th Street, North Wilkesboro NC 28659
Seeking a Reason for Hope Ministries, c/o Jeff Pinkerton, 223 Azalea Lane, Wilkesboro, NC 29697
Heshima.org, Providing Dignity for Children with Disabilities in Nairobi, Kenya.
Special thanks to the medical staff at Wake Forest Baptist Health – Wilkes Medical Center, Forsyth Medical Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Wake Forest Baptist Hospice Care at Home.
Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.
