Evangelia "Lea" Chaniotou Dooley

Evangelia "Lea" Chaniotou Dooley, age 86, passed from this life Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Fayetteville, Ark. She was born in Athens Greece, March 22, 1934. The first daughter of Michail Hanioti and Argyro Arka. Her childhood was difficult: as war came to Greece, the family, now with 2 more daughters, took refuge on their home island of Paros. Her mother passed away, and times were desperate. Living on dandelion greens and whatever else they could get, they survived the war years, and returned to Athens in 1948. In 1958, Lea married American serviceman William Dooley, bore a son, and immigrated to America in 1962. Taking her son and striking out on her own in 1965, she moved to East Orange, N.J., where she found work and eventually enrolled in beauty school, proudly graduating from the Wilfred Academy of Hair and Beauty Culture in 1967. Eager to pursue her new career, she moved to Florida, first to Clearwater, and then to Panama City, and residing there for 30 years. Establishing herself as a Master Cosmetologist and eventually opening her own salon, the Kreative Koiffures. Retiring in 1999, she moved to the "Athens of the Ozark's" Fayetteville, Ark. Making many new friends and enjoying her later years gardening, fishing, and socializing. She was a strong, independent, determined woman. A good mother, a good soul, she was loved, and will be missed. She is survived by her sisters, Katerina and Maria; their children, Ion, Christina, Panagiotis, and Kelly, of Athens, Greece; and her son, Thomas Dooley of Fayetteville. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Online condolences www.WestfieldChapel.com