Dorothy J. Chamness

DOROTHY J. CHAMNESS Marion-Dorothy “Dot” J. Chamness, 77, of Marion, passed away at 2:15 p.m. Friday, April 11, 2008, in Fountains Nursing Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, April 14, 2008 at Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Dr. Bob Wagner officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, April 13, 2008 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will take place in Freedom Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Second Baptist Church of Marion Building Fund, Marion Civic Center Foundation, or the charity of your choice. Dot was born June 1, 1930, in Marion, Illinois, to Arter W. and Lela M. (Graves) Rasberry. She married Lee Chamness in April 1948 and they had one son, Jerry D. Chamness. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sister, Jena Bloodworth. Survivors include her son, Jerry and wife, Vicki of Lacon, Illinois. Grandchildren who live in the Lacon area are Larry Chamness and wife, Jodi, Justin Chamness and wife, Stacy, Wesley Chamness and Shanelle Porch and husband, Brandon. Great grandchildren are Brandon, Shayla, Markita, and Hailey Chamness, Silas and Ryder Porch. grandson, Scott Chamness, and wife, Tammy, along with their children, Mallori and Jakoby, of Marion, Illinois, who actively participated in the care and well-being of their grandmother. sister, Herma Clark, and husband, Bob; niece, Bari Lynn Nolen, and husband, Jim; niece, Sharon Culbreth; nephew, Larry Bloodworth, and wife, Kate, as well as many great nieces and nephews. Dot owned and operated Dot’s Kut and Kurl until declining health forced her into retirement on November 5, 2006. Dot was active in her church, community and with the Miss America Pageant. She began working with the Pageant Scholarship system in 1968 and eventually became a franchise holder and executive director and producer for the Miss Illinois Pageant. Dot was a member and/or officer of the Marion Business and Professional Women’s Club, Delta Theta Tau Beta Alumnae Sorority, Marion Chamber of Commerce, Marion Memorial Hospital Auxiliary life member, Marion V.F.W. Auxiliary, and a former member of the Marion Jr. Women’s Club and Marion Woman’s Club. She bowled on the Wednesday Night Ladies League at the Herrin Bowl. She was an officer for Marion Youth, Inc. with the organization that raised the money to build the Marion Youth Center, and one of the organizers and director of the Miss Williamson County Fair Pageant, and past president of Marion Kiwanis. Dot received the “Citizen of the Year” award in 1995 from the Marion Chamber of Commerce and was selected “Unsung Hero” by WSIL-TV station in 1995. She was named “Volunteer of the Year in 1996 by the Miss Illinois Scholarship Pageant, Inc. She was a member of the Second Baptist Church where she enjoyed Sunday School with teacher, Jean Davis, and other ladies in the class.