Mary Kathryn Shapleigh

Mary Kathryn McElhenney Shapleigh of Dothan and formerly of Eliot, ME passed away Tuesday, November 29, 2011 following an extended illness.

rnFuneral services will be held at The First Baptist Church of Dothan on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 11 am with Rev. Bob Gross and Father Patrick Gallagher officiating. Burial will follow in the Dothan City Cemetery with Robert Byrd of Sunset Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 to 11 am prior to the service. rnMrs. Shapleigh was born October 21, 1931 to Fannie Kate Kathryn Cannon McElhenney and Hearston Calhoun McElhenney. She grew up in the wiregrass area attending local schools graduating from Dothan High School in 1950. While working at Fort Rucker she met Merrit J. Shapleigh of Eliot, Maine and married him on February 7, 1953. They returned to Eliot in the spring of 1953; and there they raised their five children. Mary returned to Dothan in November 1991. Mary has been a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church of Dothan. rnMrs. Shapleigh is survived by her five children; two of her four daughters Terri Keating and Traci Kirkland both of Dothan, AL, son Steven Melissa Shapleigh of Midland City, AL, daughter Tami Barry Elias of Acworth, GA, daughter Sherli Richard Searles of Eliot, ME; four grandchildren, Mike and Erica Searles of Eliot, ME, Taylor and Walker Elias of Acworth, GA; sister, Clara Charles Lewis of Dothan; three step grandchildren, eight step great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews from Alabama and the New England area. Burial Date: January 1, 1970