Dovie Foresythe Oates

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Mrs. Dovie Foresythe Oates, 98, of Manila, went to be with her Lord and Savior Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013. Born in Hollywood, Mo., she was the daughter of the late Robert and Verdie Summers Foresythe and the widow of Mr. Richard Oates.

She had been a Manila resident since 1922 and was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church. She was employed by Ballard's Florist in Manila for many years, and also owned and operated her own ceramic shop where she taught ceramic and pottery classes. Mrs. Oates was a member of the Manila Garden Club and loved spending time with her family.

In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by two daughters, Bobbie Darr Brucks and Ima Joan Jones; and a grandson, Kerry Darr.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Neal and Mary Oates of Manila;

One daughter and son-in-law, Natalene and Dwayne Scott of Madison, Miss.;

She leaves 11 grandchildren who all knew her as "Nannie": Sonjia Fowler, Kim (and James) Thompson, Cathy (and Jef) Freeman, Alan (and Dee) Oates, Janet (and Greg) Jones, Regina (and Harold) Dunkerson, Ellen (and Barry) Mooney, Carla Medlock, Tim Martin, Jamie (and Cathy) Martin, Sharla (and Tommy) Welch; and

Twenty-two great-grandchildren and 19 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Howard Funeral Service Chapel in Manila with the Rev. William Piercy officiating. Burial will follow in Manila Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons: Jef Freeman, James Thompson, Greg Jones, Dalton Jones, Matt Oates and Marc Oates.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Rose Sexton, Mrs. Oates' caregiver for the past 11 years, and The Hospice for their support and care, especially Rhonda Hurley and Beth Wallace. Guests may register at www.HowardFuneralService.com