Mary Frances Dozier

Mary Frances Dozier, age 99, of Fayetteville, died Monday, October 23, 2017. She was born September 28, 1918 in Sharon, Tennessee, the daughter of John "Jack" William and Emma Wells Roberts. She was a true Southern Belle and Steele Magnolia, a fiercely independent lady. Mary Frances grew up on a fruit orchard as the first daughter to a family with three sons before her. She was taken by her proud father via horse and buggy to be shown off around the countryside. Later when her younger sister Vannye was born they enjoyed many happy days and adventures with numerous cousins. By the time she was five, Mary Frances was sewing clothes for the family on her mom's treadle sewing machine, barely able to see over the base to guide the fabric under the needle. When their family got the first telephone in the area, she was often sent by her mama to deliver messages to people after saddling up her horse. In the busy farm kitchen she learned to cook delicious food, blessing many throughout her life with bread pudding, holiday divinity fudge or a meal including hot rolls for anyone going through a difficult time. She was a retired secretary and realtor. Despite being a ‘SouthPaw' she could make a manual typewriter sing, even with three carbon copies! Her teacher at West Tennessee Business College called her very intelligent and bright. Even in later years she remained quite sharp, was politically active and aware of everything in the newspaper. While in business school she was a member of the Beta Sigma Pi sorority. She was a resident of Memphis, Tennessee for 60 years where she was a member of Highland Church of Christ, Cherry Meadows Garden Club, Memphis Harding Academy Mother's Club, Yia Yia Luncheon Group and several bridge clubs. Her hobbies included gardening, golfing, birdwatching and hand smocking. Mary Frances was a thrifty money-stretcher and won many ribbons at the Mid-South Fair. After moving to Arkansas she became a member of Pleasant Street Church of Christ in Springdale. Mary Frances was preceded in death by her parents, all four siblings and her husband Bill Dozier of 52 years. They met while out swing dancing and were quite a pair. They lived in Paducah, KY and Ft. Smith, Ark. before returning to Memphis. She is survived by a daughter, Paula and Tyler Dutton of West Fork; four granddaughters, Emmalyn and James Smith of Lowell, Lauren and David Wigginton of Lowell, Rachel and Taylor FitzGibbon of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Sarah and Dustin Ply of North Little Rock; four great-grandchildren, Amelia and Bailey Smith of Lowell, Jack and Henry Wigginton of Lowell and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., Thursday, October 26, 2017 at Moore's Chapel followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. at Moore's Chapel. A visitation will be held 10–11 a.m. Saturday, October 28, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. at Macedonia Church of Christ in Sharon, Tennessee. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Sharon, Tennessee, under the direction of Williams Funeral Home in Greenfield, Tennessee. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 50l St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105. To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.