Ms. Dorothy Jane Mattox

Dorothy “Dottie” Jane Myers Mattox ended her battle with dementia at the age of 87. She was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, the daughter of E. Roy and Helen (Fitzgerald) Myers. She passed on January 6, 2023, peacefully listening to her favorite classical music at Carillion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. She spent the better part of the last 4 years in Brookdale Roanoke Memory and Dementia Care. Dottie was proceeded in death by her older sister, Marie Myers Brockmeier (& Justin) Homan. She is survived by the love of her life and husband of 65 years, Gordon C. Mattox, and their three children, Holly Mattox (& Matthew) Miller, Peggy M. (& Robert) Underwood, and Timothy I. (& Kathleen) Mattox and five grandchildren, Charlotte Miller, Kelsey Underwood and Wesley Underwood, and Samantha Mattox and Emma Mattox.

Dottie earned a BS in Science from Purdue University in 1957, with dual majors in Mathematics and Chemistry, a minor in Physics and certification in Education. While completing her studies at Purdue, she was a ‘Triton Mermaid’ which continued her love for synchronized swimming that had begun at Western Hills High School in Cincinnati, OH. At Purdue she was also active as a Phi Mu sister and in the Education Honor Society, Kappa Delta Pi. She was a member of the executive cabinet of the Associated Women Students during her final 2 years of college.

During Dottie’s 1st summer home from college, she worked as the express elevator operator in Carew Tower in Cincinnati, OH. Her efficiency, attention to detail, intelligent conversations, and cheerful demeanor led to working the following 3 summers at AT&T. Her job as an engineering clerk for the SAGE project (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) was to construct maps that connected the various radar sites that SAGE integrated for NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command).

She and Gordon met during a freshman mixer at the Purdue Wesley Foundation. It was then that they started their love for ballroom dancing, bridge, bowling, and tennis which continued throughout their life together. They married shortly after graduation and began their ‘2-year honeymoon’ while Gordon was stationed in Germany with the Air Force. When they weren’t traveling through Europe, Dottie taught Middle School Mathematics on base. She continued teaching when back in the US, before becoming a mother and full-time home manager.

She put the same level of focus and intensity into raising their children as she had into every other aspect of her life. She was a ‘Band Mom’ and symphony supporter for 16 years beginning by encouraging Holly’s clarinet playing in various bands, through taking cello lessons with Peggy and making flags for the marching band color guard, and chaperoning for Tim as he played violin, trumpet, French horn, and mellophone. Dorothy’s love of learning and patience in teaching were pillars of her worldview. All three children have remarked that they were homeschooled while they were in public school. She modeled and taught a growth mindset to her students, her children, and her grandchildren. Her proudest achievement was that all three of her children graduated from college, two with advanced degrees, each played at least two musical instruments, and all are happily married with children of their own.

Throughout her life, Dottie managed the backyard garden that supplied the family with fresh vegetables for her creative meals. Dottie’s love of board games, card games, and puzzles were the hobbies that still caught her interest even in the decline of dementia. Dottie became an avid sailor after being introduced to the sport in 1976. From 1978 onward, the family spent most weekends between April and September sailing on Smith Mountain Lake, a few longer vacations on the Chesapeake Bay, in New Bern, NC, on the St. John’s River near Jacksonville, Fl., and in the British Virgin Islands. She was the Admiral!

Dottie is remembered warmly by all she met, and fondly by those who called her friend. We all have missed, and will continue to miss, her presence in our lives. We will hold our special memories of her in our hearts.

A virtual celebration of Dottie’s life will be held on February 18th. Contact the family at MattoxCelebration@iCloud.com for details. In lieu of flowers, we would like memorial donations to the National Girls Collaborative Project (https://tinyurl.com/Memorial-Dorothy-Myers-Mattox) to honor her passion for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) that she instilled in her children and grandchildren.