Dorothy Kackley "Dottie" Digges

Digges, Dorothy Kackley "Dottie"
Dottie died on Thursday afternoon 6/30/2011, concluding an eleven year battle with Alzheimer's; a battle she fought courageously and without a single "Lord, why me?" Her parents were Loring Kackley, a lawyer and Judge in Berryville Virginia, and Eva Mercer, who taught elementary school after graduating from Bowling Green Teachers College in Kentucky. Dottie attended that college also, during the WWII years, and in 1945 married Ensign James Hampson S. Digges USNR. During their 66 years of marriage, Dottie and Jim were blessed with a daughter Cathy [husband Norman Arthur] in Tucson, a son John [wife Joan] in Bakersfield, and a son James [wife Jan] both deceased. They have five grandsons: Ryan Arthur, wife Katy, and daughter Makenna [Phoenix], Eric Digges and wife Melissa [Phoenix], Jeffrey and Kyle Digges [Virginia] and Sean Arthur [Minneapolis]. Also in Arizona are nieces Barbara Digges [Phoenix] and Sally [husband Bill Haramija] in Vail; in the Eastern part of the U.S. are seven nieces and nephews and brother-in-law Ken Digges and wife Lucille in Charlottesville. Dottie felt her calling was to care for her family and to help others whenever she could. To that end she was active in the Assistance League of Phoenix [thrift shop on 7th St], managing the shop and assisting in its operation for many years; a PEO member; and a Deacon at Orangewood Presbyterian Church. In the five years she and Jim lived out of the country, she was a good ambassador, determined to do what she could to improve the image of the "Ugly American". In Calais, she worked with French ladies that were trying to improve their English. In Yokohama, she worked with Japanese school children that needed help with English pronunciation. In an effort to help future victims of Alzheimer's, she was a 'guinea pig" in three clinical trials of new meds for this disease and donated her brain for research at Sun Health. There will be a memorial service at Orangewood Presbyterian Church at 2 pm on Saturday July 9th. A reception in Page Hall will follow. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Banner Alzheimer's Institute or St Mary's Food Bank.