Billie Jean Doty

Billie Jean Sandefur (Mrs. James W.) Doty, 93, Dayton, TN, died September 11, 2024. Born on Feb. 14, 1931, in Eva, TN, she was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, James W. Doty, sister, Ernestine S. Belyew, Columbus, GA, and her parents, James Lester Sandefur and Rubye Chloe Pafford Sandefur. She lived in Oak Ridge, TN, during WWII, and graduated from Camden (TN) Central High School and attended Draughon’s Business College. Following graduation, she worked at a dental office in Camden, TN, where she met and married James (Jim) Doty, an engineer, and began a lifelong adventure, moving about the Tennessee Valley as her husband built and maintained Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) electrical power generation facilities at numerous locations. Billie easily made friends, some lifelong, at all their stops in Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky, while dedicating herself to homemaking and art, finding art classes to take wherever they landed. She became an accomplished artist in media ranging from oils, acrylics and watercolors as applied to still lifes, portraits, and Swedish and Bavarian folk art. Eventually, she also began teaching art classes and supplying commissioned artwork. She also taught herself to play the autoharp and became accomplished enough to purchase a handmade instrument. She was also active and well known in their church at each location, including where they retired in Dayton, TN, becoming known to the children of First United Methodist Church as “the candy lady.” The family expresses their sincere appreciation for the quality and level of personal care offered to Billie by the caregivers of The Nursing Center at Little Creek and Gentiva Hospice in Knoxville, TN. Survivors include daughter, Tracy (Perry) Ward, Knoxville, and their children, Alex, and great-granddaughter Luci, Clinton, TN; Sam (Jasmine), Brooklyn, NY and great-grandsons Cedar and Julian; Addie (Chris) Harrelson, and great-granddaughters Lily and Vivi, St. Louis, MO; and Ben, St. Louis, MO; son, John Doty (Carol), Andersonville, TN, and their children, Wes Doty (Meg) and great-grandchildren Matthew and Arden of Mt. Pleasant, SC; Wayne (Katie) Rader, Orlando, FL, and great-grandchildren, Courtney and great-great-granddaughter Lorelai, Zachary (Monica) Rader, Knoxville; Dustin (Amanda) Rader and great-grandchildren Hannah (Brady) Barnett, and great grandson Levi, and Jackson, Annie, Millie and Molly Rader, Maryville, TN; a host of nieces and nephews, and numerous close friends in Dayton. The family will receive friends at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, TN, with a memorial service to follow at 3:00 p.m. Burial will be in Big Sandy, TN.

Billie Jean Doty

February 14, 1931 - September 11, 2024