Dora Lee Mackail

MACKAIL, Dora Lee Gould, 79, of Harrisonburg, passed away on Friday, December 9, 2011 at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, a nursing home in Harrisonburg. Her health had declined over several months due to metastatic cancer which caused her death. Known to friends as "Doddie," she was born and raised in Fairmont, W.Va., the only child of Johnson C. and Carrie Wright Gould. Doddie was a popular high school student who was president of the Fairmont High School senior class of 1950, was one of six classmates named to the National Honor Society and sang in the school chorus. She later attended Fairmont State College where she met her husband, John J. Mackail, of Greenwich, Conn., the son of Scottish immigrants who was a scholarship athlete. Doddie and John married in 1952 and resided first in South Carolina and then briefly in Connecticut before settling in 1955 in Salem, N.H. when John secured employment as a business administrator for a Massachusetts defense contracting corporation. The couple resided in Salem for some 30 years, raising three sons. They assumed active roles in school and community organizations and were members of St. David's Episcopal parish, the Salem church they helped found in the early 60s. In retirement, Doddie and John resided in Richmond, Va. where they remained for more than 25 years. They were active members of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church of Richmond and Doddie was a prominent member of its choir. The couple moved to Harrisonburg in 2008 to be close to family members. For three years they were lovingly looked after by their son, Craig, his wife, Carla, and their children. Doddie's avocation was music. She began piano study at age four and was a proficient musician and singer, participating in church choirs wherever she lived. Her lifelong love for the interest in music never waned and she was cheered to participate in her nursing home bell choir as long as she was able. Lifelong, she was an avid birdwatcher, gardener, dog lover and grammarian. Close friends and family knew she was distinguished by a wide-ranging sense of humor, sharp wit, never-ending attention to detail, inner strength and opinionated personality. Dora Lee was preceded in death by her husband, John; and a granddaughter, Carrie Lee. She is survived by son, Jay Curtis Mackail and wife, Annette, of Exeter, N.H.; and his son, Michael; son Christopher E. Mackail and wife, Laura, of Darnestown, Md.; and their children, Cameron and Christopher; son, Craig D. Mackail, of Harrisonburg; and their children, Emily and John Curtis. A graveside service will be held 1 p.m., Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at Calvary United Methodist Church Cemetery in Stuarts Draft, Va. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. following the graveside at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, Va. with The Rev. Ann Held officiating. In lieu of flowers, a donation will be gratefully received by The Harrisonburg Education Foundation, 317 S. Main St., Harrisonburg, Va. 22801. Lindsey Funeral Home in Harrisonburg is handling arrangements and online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.lindseyharrisonburg.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.