Dorothy Nolen was born in Williamson County, Illinois on August 14, 1927 to Oscar Bearden and Florence Jarvis Bearden.
She married Elvis Nolen on May 25, 1984. They shared more than thirty happy years. She never stopped loving and missing him.
She is survived by her daughter Janis Reed Thomas (Skip), her grandson Brandon Mandrell (Alex) and her precious great-granddaughter Harper Mandrell. Also surviving are other family members Melissa Schultz (Will), Rocky (Sarah) Thomas, Skipper Thomas, Mica Thomas, Megan (Aaron) Robinson and all of their children.
She loved her family so much and was so proud of them. They always came first in her life.
She graduated from Vergennes High School and later took business classes at Benton High School through SIU.
She worked from a dictaphone at home for a time for Dr. Swinney, he was trying to help her cope with the loss of her son.
She served in the Browning Township Office for twenty eight years. She served twelve years as Bookkeeper and Office Manager and sixteen years as Browning Township Supervisor.
She was a member of Jackson Grove Baptist Church. She loved music and sang for many years in the First Baptist Choir.
She enjoyed cooking for family and friends. She won two cooking contests through the Southern Illinois Newspaper. She was famous for her “Cajun Chicken”.
Dorothy was a kind, generous and selfless woman. She helped many people with her cooking during sickness and death.
Her parents preceded her in death along with brothers Kenneth and Mickey Bearden, sisters Eva, Margaret and Eunice, husbands-Lloyd Reed, Graydon Clem and Elvis Nolen and son-Marvin (Butch) Reed whom she adored.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 31st at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Pastor Kevin Bullard and Glenn Poshard officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jackson Grove Baptist Church.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com
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