Dorothy May Nobles Vacik

Dorothy Nobles was born in Memphis, Tennessee, at St. Joseph’s Hospital to Almus and Eva (Alexander) Nobles. After graduating Messick High School in 1956, she attended Memphis State University where she graduated in 1960, majoring in chemistry and biology. Dottie then attended graduate school at the University of Mississippi where she completed her Ph D in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1965.

Following her graduation, Dr. Nobles moved to Fargo, North Dakota, accepting an assistant professor position at North Dakota State University in the School of Pharmacy. This was a big change for a woman from the south, but Dottie loved Fargo, the university and her friends at Temple Baptist Church. While at NDSU, she met Dr. James Vacik, her department chair – they fell in love, married and began a wonderful life together that would last until his passing in 2006. Together, they raised six better than average kids and positively touched the lives of so many others.

In 1976, the Vacik family moved to Mobile, Alabama, where Dottie lived until 2025, when Jim accepted a position at the University of South Alabama. Dottie originally took a job at USA, too but she quickly found her true passion– early childhood education and literacy, she would go on to serve as five-year old teacher and preschool director for the Airport Boulevard Baptist Church School and Daycare. Dottie and Jim loved ABBC, where they were faithful members for decades. Dottie taught her Sunday School class for nearly fifty years, until her health began to seriously deteriorate in 2025. In addition, she served as the primary “cook” at ABBC for years, both for Wednesday night suppers as well as special events at the church. (And ask anyone who knew her, she could cook!)

Dottie was truly gifted with a heart for others in keeping with her sincere love and faithfulness for God. When people were hungry and thirsty, she fed them; when they were strangers or visitors, she brought them into her home; when they needed material possessions (clothes or monies), she helped provide them; when they were sick or alone (including hospitals and prison), she visited them. From the greatest to the least. When she breathed her last and stepped into eternity, Dottie doubtless heard, “well done, good and faithful servant.”

Dottie was preceded in death by her husband, James Vacik; her parents, Al and Eva Nobles; her brother, Harold Nobles; and her daughter, Pamella Vacik Hennigan.

She is survived by her children, Deborah Vacik of Huntsville; James Vacik II (Kim) of Mobile; Stephen Vacik (Candace) of Brandon, MS; Jonathan (Bonnie) Vacik of Andover, Massachusetts; and Joshua Vacik (Heidi) of Florence, Alabama; son-in-law Michael Hennigan; grandchildren, Allison (Dylan) Martin, Matthew (Ruthie) Puckett, David Hennigan, Walter (Sarah) Vacik, Michael Vacik, Sophie Vacik, Isabelle Vacik, Samantha Vacik, Luci Vacik, James Vacik and Matthew Vacik; and great-grandchildren, Theo Puckett, Annalie Vacik, Miles Puckett and Andrew Vacik.

Celebration of Life events will take place on Thursday, October 15, 2026, in Mobile, Alabama, at Airport Boulevard Baptist Church with visitation from 9:30 am -12:00 pm and a celebration of life to immediately follow. There will be no graveside service.