Obituary for Dorothy McFarlane "Dot" Eller (McFarlane)
Salem, Va.
Dorothy McFarlane “Dot” Eller, 90, peacefully went home to be with her Lord and to reunite with her late husband, Paul, on Monday, February 17, 2020.
She was born on December 10, 1929, in Smyth County, Va. to the late William Jennings and Alpha Miranda Moser McFarlane.
Dot was known by those who knew her best as a very passionate and strong-willed person. When she loved, she loved with all her might. However, if you crossed her, you also knew where you stood! This was especially true anytime politics came up. She loved to talk politics, and she truly knew more than the average Joe. She has even been known to assist candidates over time with campaign strategies.
When she wasn’t discussing politics, Dot could be found planting or tending to her flower and vegetable garden. She seemed to raise some of the prettiest flowers around. Of course, dinner time with fresh vegetables out of the garden was always a treat, especially if you just happened to be a traveling salesman that knocked on her door at supper time. She was truly a hospitable person that enjoyed sharing from her table.
Dot was also an excellent seamstress and was known for the numerous wedding gowns and tuxedo’s she made during her twenty years planning weddings. She also took great pride in making quilts for all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and even a few special wedding presents.
She also found time to serve as a member of the Roanoke County Woman’s Club and was currently active. She served in numerous leadership roles with over 40 years under her hat.
During times of leisure, and we are all still amazed that she found the time, you could possibly find her catching up on her family genealogy or possibly even watching a good Nascar race. At times one may even think she was competing in one herself as she drove around in her beloved Mustang GT 5.0.
As noted, Dot had a great passion for politics, and also stressed the tremendous value of education. However, she will be remembered most for the love she had and conveyed for her family. Family was everything to her, and she made sure it was exemplified in everything she did. She will be missed!
In addition to her parents, Dot was preceded in death by her loving husband of 64 years, Paul King Eller; daughter, Deborah K. Eller; grandson, Matthew C. Sherertz, and 9 siblings. She was the last of 10 children.
Family remaining to cherish her memory includes her children, Sherrie Eller Sherertz and husband, Chris, Stephen Paul (Steve) Eller and wife, Robin, and Mollie Eller Garrett and husband, Fred; grandchildren, Miranda Sherertz Zintgraff, Paul R. Eller, Keri L. Eller, Stephen P. Garrett, and Katharine M. (Kate) Garrett; great-grandchildren, Peyton, Blake, and Taylor Zintgraff.
Numerous nieces, nephews, and special friends also survive.
The family will receive friends on Friday, February 21, 2020, from 5 until 8 p.m. at John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem.
The Celebration of Life Service to honor Dot’s life will be conducted on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at 11 a.m. at College Lutheran Church; 210 S College Ave, Salem, Va., with Pastor Bob Ward officiating. Entombment will follow at Sherwood Memorial Park, also located in Salem.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations made in Dot’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105, or online at www.stjude.org.
Expressions of sympathy may be expressed to the family by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.
Dorothy McFarlane “Dot” Eller, 90, peacefully went home to be with her Lord and to reunite with her late husband, Paul, on Monday, February 17, 2020.
She was born on December 10, 1929, in Smyth County, Va. to the late William Jennings and Alpha Miranda Moser McFarlane.
Dot was known by those who knew her best as a very passionate and strong-willed person. When she loved, she loved with all her might. However, if you crossed her, you also knew where you stood! This was especially true anytime politics came up. She loved to talk politics, and she truly knew more than the average Joe. She has even been known to assist candidates over time with campaign strategies.
When she wasn’t discussing politics, Dot could be found planting or tending to her flower and vegetable garden. She seemed to raise some of the prettiest flowers around. Of course, dinner time with fresh vegetables out of the garden was always a treat, especially if you just happened to be a traveling salesman that knocked on her door at supper time. She was truly a hospitable person that enjoyed sharing from her table.
Dot was also an excellent seamstress and was known for the numerous wedding gowns and tuxedo’s she made during her twenty years planning weddings. She also took great pride in making quilts for all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and even a few special wedding presents.
She also found time to serve as a member of the Roanoke County Woman’s Club and was currently active. She served in numerous leadership roles with over 40 years under her hat.
During times of leisure, and we are all still amazed that she found the time, you could possibly find her catching up on her family genealogy or possibly even watching a good Nascar race. At times one may even think she was competing in one herself as she drove around in her beloved Mustang GT 5.0.
As noted, Dot had a great passion for politics, and also stressed the tremendous value of education. However, she will be remembered most for the love she had and conveyed for her family. Family was everything to her, and she made sure it was exemplified in everything she did. She will be missed!
In addition to her parents, Dot was preceded in death by her loving husband of 64 years, Paul King Eller; daughter, Deborah K. Eller; grandson, Matthew C. Sherertz, and 9 siblings. She was the last of 10 children.
Family remaining to cherish her memory includes her children, Sherrie Eller Sherertz and husband, Chris, Stephen Paul (Steve) Eller and wife, Robin, and Mollie Eller Garrett and husband, Fred; grandchildren, Miranda Sherertz Zintgraff, Paul R. Eller, Keri L. Eller, Stephen P. Garrett, and Katharine M. (Kate) Garrett; great-grandchildren, Peyton, Blake, and Taylor Zintgraff.
Numerous nieces, nephews, and special friends also survive.
The family will receive friends on Friday, February 21, 2020, from 5 until 8 p.m. at John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem.
The Celebration of Life Service to honor Dot’s life will be conducted on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at 11 a.m. at College Lutheran Church; 210 S College Ave, Salem, Va., with Pastor Bob Ward officiating. Entombment will follow at Sherwood Memorial Park, also located in Salem.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations made in Dot’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105, or online at www.stjude.org.
Expressions of sympathy may be expressed to the family by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.