Dorothy Nell Cothron

Dorothy Nell Cothron, 89, of Louisville, passed away Friday, Dec. 23, 2011. Born in Union City, Tenn. to Clay Bratton and Nettie Carr Cothron, Dorothy was the youngest of nine children, the eighth girl. She wondered how "thrilled" they were at her birth, but the truth is, she was doted on. Her family lived across the road from her little country grade school, and during her first day of school, Dorothy saw "Papa" out working in the field and cried. Papa came and took her home. While the older children were participating in a talent show, Dorothy sat on her Papa's lap and whispered to him. He took her hand, walked her to the stage and said, "Dorothy Nell wants to sing." And sing she did - "Pal of My Cradle Days". She could sing that song the rest of her days, as well as innumerable other "good old" songs. Dorothy was profoundly affected by her 1930s high school education in the rural community of Rives, Tenn. She learned exquisite homemaking skills, home management, acted in plays, notably "Arizona Cowgirl", where her future husband first saw her, and studied French. At any family get-together, even very recently, one might hear a rendition of "Les Marseillaise," the French national anthem. Dorothy's greatest passion in life was in being "Brad's" wife. She and Coley E. Bradley Jr., married on June 1, 1941. She mothered three children thoroughly, but Brad was her focus, as she was his. They were a team - they were inseparable, except for the period during WWII when he was serving in the U.S. Army in Europe and the Pacific. Dorothy prayed for him and wrote to him daily. This couple re-read their letters together decades later and tossed them into a fire. Together they moved around the U.S., found a church home in each community, played golf, volunteered and had traveling adventures together. They lived and served in Union City,Tenn., Milan,Tenn., Cincinnati, Ohio, Pineville, La., Tunkhannock, Pa., Paducah, Ky., Little Rock, Ark., and Louisville, Ky. They made good friends who were as fun-loving as they, and kept those friends, even when they moved on. Church was their joint focus, their faith paramount. Dorothy wrote that she didn't remember a time when prayer was not important in her life, from praying for Brad as he served his country, to praying for her children, her friends, for patience and wisdom, and for missionaries. She participated in mission groups in churches wherever they lived, and was asked more than once to serve as Woman's Missionary Union president, and Baptist Women's president. She planned and carried out many a program focused on educating participants about the work of missionaries. Dorothy and Brad went on several trips to Appalachia to lead programs for children and to take clothing and food donated by churches. They helped build a church on an Indian reservation in Oklahoma, and carried out a program for missionary children in Temuco, Chile. This couple with servants' hearts kept up these activities until they were unable. They were married for 70 years until Brad's passing in June of 2011. Dorothy had a sharp wit, and delighted everyone with her hilarious quick retorts, which were eventually dubbed "Dorothyisms". When things got tough toward the end of her life, her humor "in the moment" gave great joy, and lightened hearts. If Dorothy could reach out to the reader right now, she might encourage each one by reciting her favorite Bible verse, one she recited while tucking in her children at night: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Matthew 6:33. Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Marg Suffill (Bob), of Louisville, and Carolyn Matheny (Harvey) of Marion, Ark.; son Coley III (Janna) of Louisville; granddaughters, Andrea Suffill Weaver (Gregg) of Louisville; grandsons, John Suffill of Rome, Ga., Blake Matheny of Winooski, Vt., Ross Matheny (Janelle) of Camp LeJeune, N.C.; great-granddaughters, Iris Weaver and Liz Suffill; brother-in-law, John A. Bradley (Sara) of Union City, Tenn.; sister-in-law, Effie Bradley Wright of Martin, Tenn.; step-granddaughter, Kim Rainey (Jonah) and her daughters Georgia and Zoe, Silver Spring, Md.; and cherished nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held at a later date near Martin, Tenn. Dorothy and Coley were supporters of the outreach work of the Woman's Missionary Union. The family requests in lieu of floral gifts that donations be made in Dorothy's memory either to one's local church or to: Second Century Fund WMU Foundation, 100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, Ala. 35242. Highlands Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.