Leatrice "Doddy" Sterlene Blevins

Most people knew her as Doddy (she was also Leatrice, Lee, or Dotsie to some). She was spunky, smart, somewhat defiant, and had a sharp tongue that could cut you like knife! She softened some over the years, but the people who’ve known her the longest will always remember what a true spitfire she was.

She lived with Parkinson’s for 36 years, and if you knew her, you know she didn’t just “live” with it—she pushed back on it every single day.

When dad was in his final days, one of the last things he said was, “Who’s going to take care of momma?” He didn’t need to worry—she was always taken care of.

On her birthday after our dad passed, she had deep brain stimulation surgery (DBS) to treat her Parkinson’s, and it truly gave her a second chapter. Watching her drive again, walk without struggling, shop on her own, and regain her independence was something we will never forget.

Years later, we learned she had a serious heart defect, instead of three leaves in one of her valves, she only had two. We used to joke with her and tell her she had “saloon doors” as her valve! All joking aside, we fought hard to show the medical team that she still had so much life ahead of her even though she had Parkinson’s for so long, and she was able to receive a life-saving TAVR procedure to replace her “saloon doors” with a brand new mechanical valve. That surgery gave us 10 more years with her—and we will always be grateful for that time.

Even in the last few years, she was still her stubborn, spunky self—keeping her caregivers on their toes, getting up when she wasn’t supposed to, and doing things her way.

She is survived by her children, Guy Culp; Joy Beal and husband, George; and Jill Aiello and husband, Jeff; grandchildren Chaz Beal, Lauren Aiello, Jett Aiello and great grandchildren Harper and Gunner Beal.