Vertie Mae “Louise” Douglas was born to the late Richard Smith and Lily Mae Dobbins on December 24, 1934. She departed this life on December 8, 2023 peacefully at her residence. She accepted Christ at an early age at West Point Church of Christ and was a member of Salem Church of Christ in Lawrenceburg, TN.
She loved cooking and fed anyone that came through the door, was always dressed in her best attire, enjoyed the Word and singing gospel. She enjoyed music, especially on her birthday when her brother Roy and her sons would play the guitar and harmonica and everyone would sing, especially the Temptations “My Girl”. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to her family. She always let it be known what she thought and wanted you to know. Her famous words were “just pray about it.”
She never met a stranger, and she nurtured many others. Her personality was larger than life – when she was in the room you knew it. She knew every home remedy to heal almost anything and according to her there was nothing Rock & Rye couldn’t heal.
She was proceeded in death by her parents; her two children Callie C. Douglas and Lonnie R. Douglas; brothers, Jessie Smith, Aaron Smith, Lloyd Smith, Floyd Smith, Nalon Smith, Roy Dobbins, and Nathaniel Dobbins; sisters Katherine Scott, Callie Mae Smith, Johnnie Mae Simpson, and Francis Ann Smith.
She leaves to cherish her memories: sons David Joe Blair, Knoxville, TN, Timmy R. Douglas, West Point, TN, Phil A. Douglas, Pulaski, TN; daughters Melinda L. Brown (Wade), Pulaski, TN, Lynn Gabel, Iron City, TN; Seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren and a host of cousins and friends.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, December 11th, 2023 at Loretto Memorial Chapel with Reverend Keith Barnett officiating. Burial to follow in West Point Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Monday, December 11, 2023 at Loretto Memoiral Chapel.
Pall Bearers: Tony Douglas, Chase Edmondson, Darryl “Peanut” Cathey, Jeffrey Dobbins, Joe Dobbins, and Reginald Brown
Flower Bearers: Rebecca Sanchez, Ashley Cathey, Vicki Russel, Kathy Brown, Brenda Ballentine
Honorary Pallbearers: John Cathey, Jerry McWilliams, David Farr
The family wishes to acknowledge with deep gratitude and appreciation the thoughtfulness, love, and concern, extended to them during the loss of their loved one. A special thank you to daughter Lynn Gabel for the extraordinary love, devotion, and care she gave to her mother. Special thank you to volunteer hospice nurses Angel and Kelsey, caregiver Cara, and devoted friends Dr. Hunter Calvert and Jerry McWilliams for all their love and compassion. Loretto Memorial Chapel is assisting the family.
