Dorothy Gene Schoettle

Dorothy [Dottie] Gene Porter Schoettle, age 94, died peacefully in her home in Heber Springs, Arkansas on March 21, 2018. Dorothy was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas to the late Eugene Nubert Porter and Una Palmer Porter on December 18, 1923. Dorothy graduated from Jonesboro High School and attended Arkansas State College in Jonesboro; she then trained in Medical Laboratory Technology at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. She moved to Memphis, Tennessee and, while working as a laboratory technician, met her husband, Glenn Phillip Schoettle, M.D. She and Glenn moved to West Memphis, Arkansas in 1947, and she remained there until moving to Heber Springs, Arkansas in 2006. Dottie was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years and love of her life, Glenn P. Schoettle Sr. She is survived by sister, Jane Porter Steinegger [Fred], and her children: Phillip Schoettle [Lynn], Memphis; Timothy Schoettle [Mary], Nashville; Stephen Schoettle [Georgianne], Heber Springs; and Susan Schoettle, Sarasota, Florida. She leaves surviving grandsons, Michael Schoettle, Matthew Schoettle [Isabel], Sean Bloemer, Tyler Schoettle, and Hunter Schoettle. Always ready to learn, she advanced from using a telephone party line in the 1920's to telling Alexa to call her family and friends and sending texts from her iPad or iPhone. She often used more advanced technology than any of her children or grandchildren. Dottie was a committed supporter of education – for herself and others. She designed and funded the building of the Glenn P. Schoettle Medical Education Center at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis in honor of her surgeon husband's contributions to the community The Center is now the Glenn P. Schoettle Arts Education Center and home to DeltaARTS in West Memphis, Ark. She donated time and support to the Mid-South Community College. Dottie helped many to start and keep learning – from organizing classes for youth in cooking, sewing, cake decorating, enameling and a host of other activities at the First United Methodist Church; introducing computers at the local nursing home; driving the Literacy Van in West Memphis; to buying text books or providing tuition for many that otherwise could not afford it. Dorothy was known throughout her adult life as an artisan (pottery, mosaics, painting and other mediums) and superb jewelry maker. All of her children proudly wear jewelry she created. She continued to advance her skills even into her 90's by regularly attending jewelry and metalsmithing seminars at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Other interests included a lifelong love of horses from having her own horse when in college, to being Horse Show Mom Extraordinaire for her daughter at Germantown, Tennessee hunter shows during Susan's junior and high school years as well as many dressage shows in Florida in the early 2000's. At age 80, a gift from her children made her an ownership partner in a thoroughbred racehorse, Pick Three Punchie, and she enjoyed seeing him win his maiden race. Dorothy was known for her ‘Julia Child' cooking skills allowing her family and friends to enjoy such specialties as Beef Tenderloin with Bearnaise Sauce, Eggs Hussarde with Marchand de Vin Sauce, and her special green bean sauce, which was present at every holiday meal. Her smile, never-ending energy and love will be missed by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, Dorothy and the family suggest donations in her memory to the Glenn P. Schoettle Arts Education Center, 301 S. Rhodes, West Memphis, Ark. 72301 or to the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, P.O. Box 567, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, Tenn. 37738. Graveside Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2018 Crittenden Memorial Park in West Memphis, Arkansas at 3 p.m. Arrangements by Family Funeral Service of Heber Springs, Ark. www.dwightfamilyfuneral.com.