Elsie (Taylor) Dodson

Elsie Taylor Dodson of Knoxville passed away on June 26, 2026, at the age of 97. Born in Maynardville, Tennessee, on September 24, 1928, Elsie was the oldest of three children born to Thomas M. and Lura Carr Taylor.

Growing up during the Great Depression, she relocated with her family, living in Pittsburgh, PA, Norris, TN, and Chattanooga, TN. She graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1946 and entered the University of Tennessee that fall. She graduated from UT with a degree in home economics in 1950. At UT, she met William H. Dodson while both were cafeteria workers at Sophronia Strong Hall. They were married September 3, 1950, and they lived in Oak Ridge before moving to Knoxville in 1962.

As a mother of four, homemaker, and lifelong Democrat, Elsie supported many church, charitable, and arts organizations, including Historic Rugby (her ancestors were among the founders of the Victorian colony located on the Cumberland Plateau in northern Tennessee), Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, UNICEF, and Ijams Nature Center. She was an active member of Second Presbyterian Church of Knoxville for 64 years, serving as an elder, deacon, and teacher and volunteered with many community ministries, including Mobile Meals and Sunset Gap Community Center.

Elsie was an avid and accomplished hiker of the Great Smoky Mountains, hiking every mapped trail in the park at least once. Her weekly hikes were often with the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club and at other times with friends she made through hiking. She enjoyed playing bridge, flower and vegetable gardening, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She loved having her children and their families gather for Thanksgiving in Knoxville and hosting friends and neighbors throughout the year. Hardly a day passed without reading the Knoxville News-Sentinel front to back, and she followed national politics by devotedly watching the Sunday morning network news programs. She was a good bowler in her time and held down her side of family cornhole matches.

She kept a detailed journal of family vacations and trips with Bill, visiting all 50 states. Many foreign destinations involved travel with the Elderhostel organization, including hiking in Patagonia, bicycling across much of western Europe, and visiting family in Australia. Her last international trip was to Croatia in 2015. She maintained a strongly positive outlook throughout her life, beating cancer three times and battling Alzheimer’s disease in her final years.

Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, sister Carolyn, and her husband, Bill. Surviving are her brother Harold of Tucson, AZ, and four children: Richard Dodson (Lauren) of Knoxville, Gary Dodson (Jill Jereb) of Muncie, IN, Melanie Dodson (David Granger) of Croton-on-Hudson, NY, and David Dodson (Susan) of Athens, GA. Grandchildren are Nora Granger (Eric Casella), Ellen Granger (Tim Wojcik), Taylor Dodson, Parker Dodson, Jenna Dodson, Kate Dodson, and great-grandchildren Sonny Casella, June Casella, and Oscar Wojcik.

Her family expresses their appreciation to the staffs at Shannondale Assisted Living, Story Point Memory Care, and Shalom Hospice for their dedication to “Ms. Elsie’s” well-being.

A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced, with arrangements provided by Berry Highland Memorial. Memorial gifts may be made in Elsie’s name to Historic Rugby Inc. at https://historicrugby.org/donate/.