Mrs. Dorothy Marie Payne Horsley, 101, wife of the late Chalmers “Butch” Horsley and a resident of Onancock, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.
Born on April 30, 1921, “Dot” was a native of Onancock and the daughter of the late William F. Payne and the late Vida E. Powell Payne. She is survived by a nephew, Herbert “Lawrence” West of Cheriton. After graduating from Onancock High School and college, she went on to teach part time, as her life became very active alongside her husband serving their country.
On April 5, 1941, she married Butch, the love of her life. They had one daughter, the late Carolyn Marie Horsley, the apple of their eye. Dot, Butch, and Carolyn enjoyed traveling during and after his many years in the U.S. Coast Guard. She adored their animals, enjoyed sewing, and was an avid reader.
After Butch retired from the U.S. Coast Guard, they moved back to the Eastern Shore, settling in Onancock, where they dove into community service and enjoyed a full life. Being a no-nonsense lady, she easily set the tone for getting things done and held her own with any vehicle expert, discussing all makes and models. As a very young woman, she gained this knowledge from hands-on experience at her father’s side in his Onancock car dealership. Active in the Elks and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Dot and Butch were faithfully found helping with bingo and in the kitchen. They were also quite the couple cutting the rug on the dance floor. Dot often said, “Add some good old local fried trout to supper and you’ve had a great Eastern Shore day.” Dot joined Naomi Makemie Presbyterian Church in 1934 at the age of 13. In later years, she served in the Presbyterian women’s groups. She and Butch led the senior high youth fellowship. Their gifts of service were sprinkled wherever needed.
Being a reserved but giving woman of faith, strong-willed, and never idle surely contributed to living out an amazing full life of 101 years. Butch lived 97 years. This handwritten prayer found in their Bible may shed the greater light to their secret of truly living out the gift and blessing of life: “Our Heavenly Father, come and be among us by thy Holy Spirit so that we may really be bound together in fellowship. Bless our work and study and worship and all our doings. Help us to learn to live forgivingly with others by remembering that thou hast forgiven us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant that we may show our gratitude for thy love to us by being always ready to give ourselves up to thy service, and by seeking earnestly to follow our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
To honor her request, no public services will be held. Memorials may be made to the Onancock Elks Lodge #1766, P.O. Box 219, Accomac, VA 23301 or to the VFW Post #2296, P.O. Box 99, Tasley, VA 23441.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.doughtyfuneralhome.com
Arrangements were made by Doughty Funeral Home in Exmore.
