CDR US NAVY, WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM

DOROTHY ELLEN BIZZELL, retired Naval Commander, was born August 17, 1917, in Chesbrough, Louisiana, and died February 23, 2014. Dottie was the daughter of Harvey and Emmette Bizzell and one of eight children. She leaves her youngest brother, Word G. Bizzell. Dottie graduated from Inverness, MS High School, received her B.S. degree from Memphis State College, her M.S. degree from the University of Mississippi, and did post-graduate work at the University of Kentucky. After teaching for 3 years, Dottie served in the Navy Wave Corps during World War II and retired in 1975 with the rank of Commander. After World War II, she then returned to South Side High School, where she was a beloved teacher, coach, and guidance counselor. Dottie finished her 57 year career with Memphis City Schools at Trezevant Career/VoTech. During this time, she also worked for WMC-WMCT Radio and Television Station. Dottie was an avid sports participant, excelling as a player, coach and referee. She was inducted into the Memphis Park Commission's Amateur Sports Hall of Fame in 1972. In 1995, Dottie was honored as Tennessee's Outstanding Secondary Vocational Counselor of the Year. Her recent caregivers include her niece, Carolyn Bynum; nephew, Tom Middleton and friends, Linda and Gary Edwards. Other local relatives are her nephew, Harvey Middleton and niece, Dottie Hinds. She is also survived by scores of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews. Visitation will be at Memphis Funeral Home on Poplar Ave., Monday, March 3 from 5-8 p.m. A memorial service will be held there also on Tuesday, March 4 at 1 p.m. Interment will follow in West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to Church Health Center, 1210 Peabody Ave., 38104 or St. Jude Children's Hospital, Tribute #35476601, P.O. Box 1000, Department 142, 38148. Memphis Funeral Home 5599 Poplar Ave. (Published in The Commercial Appeal on March 1, 2014)