Elaine "Lainey" Ashley Dodds

Elaine Ashley Dodds, known as "Lainey", passed away on Monday, March 24th, 2025 at the age of 78 - one day shy of her birthday. Born in Boston, Mass., she was a great-granddaughter of Eben S.S. Keith, railroad pioneer and owner of Keith Car Works and Manufacturing Co. of Sagamore, Mass. She lived and traveled around the globe with her family, thanks to her Naval Officer father's military assignments and personal zeal for travel. She crossed the Atlantic on the SS Exochorda at age 9 to live in Spain, an indelible experience that instilled in her a love for other cultures and languages, and which stayed with her throughout her life as a fluent Spanish speaker. Lainey's lifelong passion was early childhood education. She always said her own childhood was a fairytale, and she found joy in creating magic for her young students.

She founded Pine Hill Country Day School in 1978 and was a pioneer in her field, offering a comprehensive curriculum which focused on whole child development, as well as a renowned Spanish immersion program. She loved the color red, all dogs everywhere, classical music, chocolate in any form, her own legendary fortune cookie joke (if you know, you know), playing folk songs on her acoustic guitar, singing in the choir at First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, wearing fabulous caftans, ordering multiple appetizers instead of a meal (this is known as The Lainey Special), her family and friends, and her beloved Cape Cod. She especially loved being right, and according to her, she was all the time. Her family has a million funny stories to share of her incredible life, and they will forever, in celebration of their dynamic mother.

She is survived by her children, Rebecca Dodds, Christopher (April) Dodds and Jennifer (Ryan) Dodds Fox; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Captain Donn Langdon Ashley, U.S.N.; mother, Nancy Uhlenhaut Ashley; brother, Philip Nathan Ashley; and her English Springer Spaniel, Sparkles "Pink Nose" Dodds.

Memorial Gathering is 4:00 - 7:00 PM, Thursday, April 24, 2025 at D.O. McComb & Sons Funeral Homes - Lakeside Park, 1140 Lake Ave, Fort Wayne. Private interment will take place at a later date in East Sandwich, Mass.

Memorial Contributions may be directed to DonorsChoose.org, an organization that provides much needed support to underfunded classrooms and projects, in keeping with her wish for all children to have access to an outstanding and magical education.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Dodds family.