Dollie Achenbach

CAIRO, Ill. -- Dollie Ward Mitchell Achenbach, born April 29, 1921, in Ullin, Illinois, died Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. She was 97.

Dollie was the daughter of William S. Ward and Zora Catherine Smith. She had five brothers, Doyle Lee Ward, William Earl Ward, Lindle Albert Ward, Paul Levi Ward and LaVern Alfred "Bud" Ward, and two sisters, Edith May Ward Mowery and Flora Catherine Ward Kirkpatrick, all of whom are now deceased.

Dollie lived her entire life in Southern Illinois and completed her education in Olmsted, Illinois. She and Jackson Lee "Jack" Mitchell married May 15, 1937. They were the parents of two daughters, Marcella and Elaine Mitchell.

She was a member of First Southern Baptist Church in Cairo and enjoyed walking, reading, gardening and spending time with her family. She taught Sunday school and Bible school for many years and held various offices in her church during her life. Most of all, she was a homemaker, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.

She is survived by her two daughters, Marcella Dockins of Cape Girardeau and Elaine (Richard) Wild of Mounds, Illinois; and six grandchildren, Myra Neeley of Cape Girardeau, Chuck (Karen) Neeley of Holly Springs, Mississippi, Rebecca Sims of Las Vegas, Juliet Jackson of St. Louis, Jill (Chip) Bulgin of Severna Park, Maryland, and Josh (Kim) Jackson of St. Louis. She is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren, Christopher (Lisa) Funk, Courtney Funk, Myra Elizabeth Smith, Chad Neeley, Katherine Neeley, John David Sims Jr., Kiersten Sims, Mitchell Jackson, Christina Bulgin, Garret Bulgin, Austin (Kim) Davis, Benjamin Jackson and Andrew Gluck; two great-great-grandchildren, Isabella Funk and Hayden Berne; and also many nieces, nephews and special friends.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Jackson Mitchell and Robert Achenbach; her parents; two sisters and five brothers; and a granddaughter, Deborah Susan Neeley.

Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at Crain Funeral Home in Cairo.

Funeral will be at noon Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Tom Hoskins officiating. Interment will follow at Masonic Cemetery at Olmsted.

To view the obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family visit www.crainsonline.com.