She was born one of six children to the late Benjamin Franklin & Mary Ethel (Reynolds) Hagler on July 18, 1924 in Erin, Tennessee.
Dorothy met her groom, Albert Isaac, in Detroit, Michigan through her brother in law, as they were all searching for work during the war. She fiercely became a “Rosie the Riveter”, and then went on to marry her decorated Marine. They had a beloved daughter together, and all moved back to Erin, TN where thy started their own steel scaffolding manufacturing company and won the contract to provide the scaffold for the first Superdome in New Orleans.
Dorothy was not only a skilled bookkeeper; but, mastered crocheting and embroidery. She made altar clothes and embroidered kneeling pads for St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and Erin Methodist Church, baby afghans for all the great grandchildren and for expectant mothers in her community, and over 100 pairs of adaptive Velcro clothing for wounded warriors returning from war in the Middle East. She served in Sarah’s Circle at St. Luke’s; and, no one will ever forget her carrot cake and yeast rolls! Dorothy was always full of life, and her family celebrates her with all of their hearts.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her dear husband, parents and siblings, Lila McElroy, Ann Williams and Betty Gooch.
She is survived by her daughter, Norma Jean (Taylor) Sutton with husband, Byron Sutton; three grandchildren, Colonel Harlie Bodine and wife Lianna, Taylor Bodine and wife Cindy and Eric Sutton and wife Elizabeth; eight great grandchildren, Daniel, Hendrikje, Anneke, Annalise, Matthew, Luke, Elliot and Garret; and, siblings, Evelyn Alsobrooks and Benjamin Hagler, Jr.
Celebration of Dorothy’s Life in Windermere on February 25, 2019.
Dorothy will be inurned with her dear husband and family in Erin, Tennessee on March 2, 2019.
Condolences to www.woodlawnfuneralhomegotha.com
