Dorothy "Dot" Styers Sherrill

Dorothy (Dot) Styers Sherrill, age 94, passed from this life to her heavenly home on June 24, 2019 as promised her in John 14:2-3. She was preceded by her beloved husband of 61 years, Sam T (Skip) Sherrill, and treasured son, Vic Sherrill. She is survived by her daughter Kathy Lucia (Michael), grandson Phillip Lucia (Brittney), granddaughter Mandy Snowden (Adam), great-grandson Luke Lucia, daughter-in-law Becky Yonge Sherrill, and her special cat, Noodles.

Dot was born on February 15, 1925 in Mississippi, and adopted at 3 months old by Virgil and Annie Styers. She attended seven different elementary schools as her father was transferred with Illinois Central Railroad. She graduated from University High School in Oxford, Mississippi with high honors, and was offered a scholarship to Millsaps College. Dot elected to attend Ole Miss instead, working in the library to help pay expenses. After one semester she decided to work for a while before continuing her education, but never returned to college. She was employed in the traffic department of the Proctor and Gamble Defense Corporation in Milan, Tennessee. She became the company’s first female manager, in charge of overseeing the movement of Army ammunition by trucks and railroad cars to Army depots across the country. She married Skip in 1946. A decade later, she accepted a job with the Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, so they moved their growing family to Huntsville, then to Decatur, AL. Her duties involved moving missiles and missile materiel throughout the continental United States and overseas, requiring her to travel extensively. Germany and Spain were her primary overseas destinations.

Dot participated on a committee for designing the Lunar Roving Vehicle. She helped initiate the use of barges to transport oversized missiles from Huntsville to Cape Canaveral for launches. She and Skip were invited to witness the launch of Apollo 12 , the second manned space flight to the moon.

Dot developed policies for the movement of Army missiles, trained Army personnel throughout the United States and at overseas depots, and spent time in Washington D.C. writing an Army Regulation for safe and secure movement of missiles from origin to destination. She developed a system of moving Army missile materiel to the troops in Vietnam, earning her a commendation from the commander of the United States armed forces, General William Westmoreland. She later developed a computer program that kept track of shipments of missile materiel, continuing to be involved with the safe and expedited movement of missiles.

Despite her career, Dot was a wonderful and involved mother to two busy children and devoted wife to her husband, Skip. She was a wonderful cook and loved being at home with her family. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church for almost 60 years.

In February of 1983, Dot and Skip retired from their respective jobs and were honored with a number of retirement parties. Dot soon became a Bible Study teacher at Presbyterian Towers, continuing this for 20 years. She then became one of five teachers of the Tuesday morning Bible study that meets at Decatur Public Library until the spring of 2017. Dot and Skip enjoyed traveling together, particularly to visit Vic’s family in Mobile, AL and Kathy’s in Phoenix, AZ.

A quote from Dot: “I had an exciting career, but no more so than my experiences with church, Bible Study, and the great friends I have met there. I witnessed a lot of miracles in my work, but I can truthfully say, it was because HE was with me! It is a wonderful life!”

A huge thank you goes out to Mom’s previous, current, and Hospice caregivers. Her life was made better by your unselfish care!

A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Decatur First Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Richard Brooks officiating. A reception will follow at the church.

Donations may be made in Mrs. Sherrill’s memory to First Presbyterian Church or to Hospice of the Valley.

Guestbook available at www.roselawnfhandcemetery.com.