Patricia Hawkins Dotson

Patricia (Patsy) Hawkins Dotson, 89, of Birmingham, Alabama transitioned to her eternal rest at sunrise on Saturday morning, June 30th after a long illness, which she endured with grace. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Clifford L. Dotson, her son Mark Blair Dotson, an infant son Gary Lynn Dotson, sister Dorothy Hudson, and her parents Gertrude Byrd Deitenbeck and Benjamin Andrew Hawkins.

Patsy was born and raised in Birmingham, the last of her Mother’s six children. She attended Phillips High School and later Auburn University. In the early part of their marriage, she traveled with her husband Cliff as he pursued his career as a metallurgist

in Youngstown, OH; East Orange, NJ; and Houston, TX. Their love of Birmingham brought them back home in the early ‘60s when Cliff opened his firm Vulcan Testing.

Patsy was by Cliff’s side as he developed his successful company, affording them a comfortable life during 68 years of marriage.

But this love story began back in the early ‘40s in the neighborhood of North Highlands, where Patsy and Cliff were neighbors, living a block apart. Cliff spotted this lovely teenage girl early on and after he returned from his duty in the Marine Corps (1942-46) in World War II, he courted Patsy and had the good taste to ask her hand in marriage. They assumed residency in Auburn, AL where Cliff was getting his degree in Engineering Physics and Patsy was studying for her degree in Home Economics. Her natural talent for keeping a beautiful home and cooking delicious meals came in handy through years of entertaining family and friends…and she did love to entertain.

Considering that Patsy had major heart surgery when she was just 19…the first of its kind in Alabama…she became an outstanding tennis player, winning many trophies in the Fifty-Nine Forever Tennis Tournaments at Vestavia Country Club where she and Cliff were members for many years. She was active in the Queen of Spades Garden Club, the Silhouettes Dance Club, Crescent Club, and the Torch Bearers Sunday School Class at Mountain Brook Baptist Church. Patsy was an avid bridge player which kept her mind active until recent years. She was blessed with outstanding beauty and early on worked as a runway model and in magazine advertisements. She maintained that beauty throughout her life and had a radiant personality enjoyed by her family and beloved friends. Patsy was able to lead a full life until 2011 when she had an aortic valve replacement. Slowly after that, and with the death of her son and husband in 2015, her health declined and she remained home. Even then, Patsy could amuse the caregivers and family with her wry sense of humor.

Left to cherish her loving spirit is Patsy’s older brother John (Jack) Andrew Hawkins who resides in the Veterans Home in Georgetown, OH; niece Jenny Hudson (William Kestly) of Birmingham; sister-in-laws Janey Dotson Ware, Port Arthur, TX and Elsie Hawkins, Naples, FL; nieces and nephews in Wilmington, OH…Naples, FL…Port Arthur, TX…and her beloved neighbors and friends, especially the Collinsworth family.

Patsy’s family would like to thank the dedicated and loving caregivers Lisa, Adrianne, Louise, Loretta and others from Home Instead and Kindred Hospice.

A service in celebration of Patsy’s life will be on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at 3:00pm in the Chapel of Mountain Brook Baptist Church, with visitation following

in Hudson Hall. Dr. Doug Dortch will officiate. If you wish, a contribution should be made to the American Heart Association of Birmingham or the Mountain Brook Baptist Church.